MOUNT Gambier and District Senior Citizens Club president Peter Ploenges has confirmed the club will remain at its current James Street premises despite growing concerns it would be displaced by the Olympic Park development.
It follows weeks of uncertainty for the community group following an invitation by City Council for the Open Door Baptist Church to relocate to the building from its O’Halloran Terrace site, which will be razed during the $39.1m Community and Recreation Hub project.
News the church will be moved from its current site follows revelations the city’s Girl Guides would lose their home of five decades due to fire regulations imposed by the footprint of the looming multi-million dollar development.
The Border Watch has been aware of ongoing negotiations between affected parties and council in recent weeks with the James Street tenants remaining tight-lipped during this period.
With limited space available at the James Street site, it was initially determined the current tenants would be relocated to the Olympic Park clubrooms, with the church taking full residency at James Street.
But Mr Ploenges said after inspection of the clubrooms – which also houses netball and tennis clubs – the Senior Citizens Club, University of the Third Age and other current tenants, comprising a total of 346 members, would not find the site suitable.
“It was just not the type of layout suitable for the purposes we have at our current building,” he said.
“There was no room to put most of our furniture or honour boards.
“Do not get me wrong – it is a very nice venue, but it just would not work for us, there is no other way to put it.”
Mr Ploenges said the church’s pastor also toured the James Street site to decide if it would be suitable to share.
After consideration from all parties, Mr Ploenges said he received a call from council with information as to whether the clubs would need to pack up and move.
He said it was a stressful situation as the club had called James Street home for more than 55 years.
“I got a call on Sunday saying council had considered our situation and we would not need to move,” he said.
“It was such a relief – they said another date would then be set with the pastor to again come in and read through each other’s calendars to see if we can come to a compromise.
Mr Ploenges said despite tensions being high, all current tenants of the James Street site were willing to accommodate the church.
“All of our groups have been willing and able to use the site together and not encroach on each other,” he said.
“We would happily accommodate the church, we just need to work together to find a solution.
“They need to come to us so we can work this out for everyone to be happy.”
