A report by council corporate services executive manager Graham Tolhurst, for the consideration of councillors tomorrow night, states the ailing hall doesn’t fit the town’s planned population boom.

“The circumstances of the Lochinvar School of Arts Trust are regrettable but are a reflection of community needs which have changed over time,” Mr Tolhurst said. 

“Community consultation in Lochinvar and future planning by council is directed towards appropriate community assets away from the highway and associated with the newer developing residential areas.”

The hall was once home to a popular library and boxing gym but has suffered a decline in use and subsequent fall in revenue that has seen it succumb to the ravages of time.

Flaking paint reveals extensive dry rot in the weatherboards as well as drainage issues.

The Department of Primary Industries-Catchment and Lands NSW notified council of the opportunity to save the heritage-listed hall.

One of the trustees told the department he wished to retire, which would see the hall, sitting on freehold land, fall to the state government unless council intervened.

If council enters a partnership with the trustee it will have to maintain the building for a minimum of two to three years, after which the building could be sold to fund other  facilities.

Cr Ken Wethered said the only catch could be the cost of upkeep in the meantime.

“My thoughts are why don’t we do some sort of costing that might give some insight to that,” he said.

“We own the park next door, so if we put it together we could make some money out of it.”