Originally Published January 11 2022
THE Morton Garner Pavilion has undergone a massive redevelopment which will allow more Cohuna Recreation Reserve users to utilise the facilities which have been modernised.
Gannawarra Shire Council oversaw the development of the Cohuna and District Agriculture, Pastoral and Horticulture Society building, transforming it into a multi- purpose facility that can be used for agriculture and community events.
Council chief executive officer Tom O'Reilly was excited about the redevelopment, as well as the flexibility the facility.
"This project, initiated by the Cohuna and District Agricultural, Pastoral and Horticultural Society, has brought this popular facility into the 21st century," he said.
Local architect AKH Designs designed the redevelopment to the pavilion in consultation with the society, with CJ & BT McLoughlan Builders constructing the facility.
"Thanks to this redevelopment, these groups now have access to a multi-use building offering easier and safer access to toilet facilities and open space events," Mr O'Reilly.
Inspiration for the building has been drawn from the Gateway to Gannawarra Visitor Centre Building, with the building featuring a polished concrete floor, with lots of lighting throughout the building.
The redevelopment cost $600,000 with a large amount of that coming from the Federal Government's Regional Agriculture Show Development grants program, with Gannawarra Shire Council pitching in just over $100,000 to fund the project.
Cohuna and District Agriculture, Pastoral and Horticulture Society president Tucker Peace was impressed with how the facility had turned out.
"Its really fantastic, we are so thankful for everybody's help in getting this project completed, it really is a big community effort to make things like this happen," he said.
While the Cohuna Show will use the facility primarily for their arts and crafts displays, the new pavilion also has the possibility of being hired out for small wedding receptions and birthdays in the future.
Featuring an office, kitchen as well as three separate toilet facilities, the possibilities are endless for the pavilion, with further work outdoors still to be completed to finish the project.
Mr Peace was particularly proud of how the facility was able to utilise the skill of lots of local people, with nearly all the tradespeople who worked on the facility being locals to the Cohuna community.
"Its important to keep things local, and we were able to do that with this project," he said.
The 108th Cohuna Show is set to be held on March 18 and 19.
