TWO Berri community groups are expected to share premises in the near future after agreeing in principle to a proposal from council.
Under the agreement, the Berri Lions Club will move into the Berri Senior Citizens’ Crawford Terrace clubroom, which is currently leased from Berri Barmera Council by the Senior Citizens Club, and both clubs will use the space under a licence agreement.
The proposal was also endorsed in principle by council at its most recent monthly meeting.
Council CEO Karyn Burton said the potential arrangement would benefit all three parties.
“The Lions’ current accommodation has seen better days and is quite derelict, so they came to council wanting to see how we can help them,” she said.
“We suggested that they perhaps talk to the Senior Citizens Club about whether they could share their facilities in any way.
“Council long ago thought that some groups could possibly share facilities, and that would keep their costs down and keep council’s cost for maintaining the buildings down as well.”
Ms Burton said the council had sought legal advice regarding the proposal to determine how best to put in place a licence that would allow both clubs to utilise the building.
“Both clubs have agreed in principle, but there are some details that need to be worked through to ensure neither of the groups lose out,” she said.
Ms Burton said work would be done on the building to make it suitable.
“Council now will work with Lions and Seniors to come up with plans for any alterations to the building to accommodate the shared use,” she said.
“I know the Lions Club will need a new shed out the back and there may be other things like that.
“It will possibly be about getting it to a shovel-ready status so we can apply for some grant funding opportunities.”
Council’s Leases and Licences Advisory Group has been negotiating with the Senior Citizens Club to put in place a formal lease agreement for the building since last September.