Schotia Place gets a cool upgrade for summer

Published on 23 November 2017

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Users of Rockhampton’s Schotia Place are set to benefit from significant upgrades to the community hall including new air-conditioning in time for the summer months.

Acting Mayor Councillor Tony Williams said the new air-conditioning was a welcome reprieve for the senior citizens who have used the facility decades to enjoy weekly activities.

“New air-conditioning for Schotia Place is certainly a welcome addition to the community hall which has also received extensive repairs from Council over the past years including a new roof, repairs to the exterior and also interior upgrades,” Cr Williams said.

“Schotia Place is a beautiful heritage listed building in the heart of our city, and it is crucial we continue to maintain facilities like this to preserve our heritage and  also make it a more inviting place for our community.”

The $300,000 air-conditioning project was jointly funded through Council and the State Government’s Works for Queensland program. Council also spent more than $360,000 over the past three years to carry out the additional restoration works.

Chair of Communities Councillor Swadling said feedback from the seniors has been very positive leading into summer.

“Previously Schotia Place could only be kept cool with fans, and due to its sheer size, the air conditioning was a significant chunk of money that we are fortunate to have received through grant money,” Cr Swadling said.

“We are very much looking forward to resurfacing the timber floors in the hall in January, which comes as part of round two of the Works for Queensland funding,”  

Schotia Place also houses the offices for the Central Queensland Home Assist program that Council delivers to five local government areas across CQ, with funding from state and federal government.