Community
1 March, 2025
Repairs for beloved hall
THIRTEEN months of resilience have shown through for locals of Machans Beach, with residents celebrating the beginning of repair work of the suburb’s community hall.
Having received $25,000 from Cairns Regional Council’s Go Club grant in November 2024, Machans Beach Community Association has finalised the repairs for the roof. The group is now waiting for the release of an additional undisclosed amount from the RACQ Foundation to cover the costs of the remaining work.
Association vice-president Brett Hitchens said $25,000 from November’s Go-Club grants had helped repair work get started.
“We’ve secured the new roof, now we’re just waiting for the grant from the RACQ Foundation to be finalised,” he said.
Machans Beach construction business ELH Construction has been given the job. Owner Evan Herridge said the funding being received had been “well overdue.”
“It’s been over a year since the damage was caused,” he said.
“This financial support has been well overdue.”
With the roof secured, Mr Herridge said the hall would also be undergoing extensive repair work.
“The first stage has been to replace the roof,” he said.
“We’re also replacing the cladding on the southeast side, due to rotted water damage.
“We’re going be repainting the whole hall, as well as redoing the interior.”
Mr Herridge has covered the repair works until the funds come though but urged locals to help as well.
“Locals can make a difference through getting a membership for the community association,” he said.
“It’s $10 a month and it goes to a great cause.”
It’s expected that the work to replace the roof and clad one external wall will take a few weeks depending on how much the work is interrupted by the weather.
In the latest suburban newsletter Machanations, the association says “it’s wonderful to see the building getting some well overdue tender loving care and MBCA is looking forward to be able to announce even more good news soon about funding improvements for the building’s future as we look forward to another 65 years of valued community use”.
Machans Beach was one of the hardest hit in the December 2023 floods with many households still being repaired.
