PLANS are taking shape for a community centre in Molong, although the building's completion is still sometime away.
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Cabonne councillors have supported a design for the Molong Community Hall building following a series of workshops between December and April.
It is a scaled-back version of previous designs, which exceeded the $5 million budget.
The building, taking up 864 square metres, will include a library, auditorium and support area with a kitchen, amenities and storage.
Of the space, the library will take up 143 square metres and the council needed to consult with New South Wales Libraries to ensure it met size and funding requirements.
"This is being deemed appropriate given when additional common areas being used by the library are incorporated, they combine to meet the guideline specification of 190 [square metres in] floor space," the report to councillors said.
The area of the auditorium has been increased from 133 square metres to 299 square metres, with more space also allocated to the green room to include dedicated changing areas.
It would seat 240 people for theatre shows and 160 for functions, with the ability to split the room into two for conferences.
Elements within the existing kitchen are expected to be utilised within the new kitchen of the Cabonne Community Centre.
Grow Molong was consulted during the workshops and president Les Dean said the building would be a huge improvement on current facilities.
"[The library] is based at the old railway station at the moment, which is probably not a bad spot for it, but elderly people have to walk across the Mitchell Highway and there's no crossing," he said.
Mr Dean said the enhanced auditorium and backstage space would be an asset for the Molong Players, which staged shows there.
A development application is expected to be lodged for the development in June and the engineering design will be completed later in the year.
Tendering of the project is expected to be undertaken by February, with construction to be completed by May, 2022.
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