Engadine Community Facilities
The multi-million dollar project to construct new community facilities in Engadine complete. Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jan Forshaw, officially opened Sutherland Shire Council's new $9.7 million Engadine Community Facilities and town square on Saturday 19 June 2010.
The focal point is a 328 seat capacity civic and cultural hall equipped with state-of-the-art audio visual equipment, adaptable lighting, motorised retractable seating and full-retractable wall partitions, so the hall can be divided into two for different activities. The facilities also include a new hall, meeting rooms, a café and a new base for the Engadine District Aid and Information Service.
The building sits at the centre of the new town square which is home to the newly-reinstated Engadine War Memorial.
The community centre project is the first stage of a two part development which will ultimately see the creation of a multi-purpose community centre, a pedestrian-friendly square, upgraded car parking and a new privately-operated aged care facility.
The new facility includes a large new office for Engadine Community Services as well as two hireable public meeting rooms with a capacity of 40 seats each. Anyone wishing to book the hall can call 9710 0333.
Paving completed on the Engadine Town Square
Concept Illustrations
Stage One – open mid-late May
Stage One includes a new hall facility, meeting rooms, community office space and a cafe. Council expects the Community Centre building will be handed over in late April and the internal fit out of furniture, computer equipment and signage, security and the fit out of the café will take place.
Engadine Community Services is expected to move into new community office space provided within the building by late May or early June. The new community hall facilities include a large main community hall which can be divided into two smaller halls and two additional meeting rooms each with a 40 seat capacity. These are expected to be available for community bookings soon and in use from mid-May. Enquiries for the hire of these facilities can be made with Council's Hall Booking Staff by contacting 9710 0278.
The new facility includes a 320 seat capacity civic and cultural hall equipped with state-of-the-art audio visual equipment, adaptable lighting structure, motorised retractable seating and fully retractable wall partitions so the hall can be temporarily divided in two different activities.
Civic and Cultural Hall
Meeting rooms under construction
Interior Entrance
Council has fitted out the hall with a portable staging system, access to two kitchenette facilities, multi-media equipment, a large drop down screen, and a hydraulic mobile lift so those using the centre can manage their own lighting needs.
Stage One will also see the opening of the western extension of the new Engadine Town Square. Council has designed and constructed a civic space which will provide a central meeting place for the residents and visitors to Engadine. The square is predominantly a paved area which has been designed to accommodate large scale community events and has access to power, capacity for projection onto the face of the new building and lighting. The adjoining Engadine Court Shopping Centre has also recently been redesigned to provide outdoor eating areas fronting the town square. This will be mirrored by the proposed Café within Council's development which is proposed to have seating underneath the awning of the building fronting the square. The likely effect of these outdoor eating establishments will be the creation of an "eat street" environment.
Paving the new Engadine Town Square
Stage Two
In stage two of the project, Council is currently in negotiations with the Moran Health Care Group for the construction of a multi-storey residential aged care facility with a total capacity for 120 beds. The building will also include a basement level of public car parking which will be directly accessible to the town square via a public lift. Moran Health Care recently submitted a Development Application to alter the layout of the car park and provided approval is granted, Moran expect to commence construction as soon as possible.
Once construction of the aged care facility commences access to Council's new loading dock, bin room and booster pump will be restricted until completion of the basement car park. Alternative arrangements will be implemented during this period.
The town square will be extended through to Caldarra Avenue as part of the construction of the aged care facility. This will provide a clear pedestrian link between Old Princes Highway and the remaining older community facilities located on the eastern side of Caldarra Avenue.
Engadine War Memorial
The newly-restored War Memorial at Engadine is due for final completion in time for the Engadine RSL Sub Branch to host pre-ANZAC Day services at the site.
The War Memorial was dismantled in March 2009 to enable work on the Engadine Community Facilities to take place. In its place a new, larger elevated memorial, designed according to the wishes of the RSL Sub Branch has been built to honour those who have undertaken military service for the country.
The War Memorial will form a focal point in the new Town Square and will be installed on a raised platform, with a curved wall to act as a backdrop. The memorial will have new lighting installed and includes local sandstone and the military badges from the original cairn which have been safely stored by council over the past 12 months to be used in the new monument.
Council and the RSL were successful in receiving grant funding for the relocation of this war memorial from both the Federal Government under the Saluting Their Service Commemorations program and the State Government under the Community War Memorials Fund.
Engadine War Memorial
Engadine Lions Club Clock
The Engadine Lions Club clock which was also removed to make way for the construction of the new facilities has been restored to its previous location following a restoration process. Work included cleaning of the mechanisms and existing clock faces, replacing the clear Perspex covers over the clock faces and repainting to match the new lighting installed as part of the project.
Lions Club Clock
Lions Club Clock
Exterior during construction
Town square during construction