A public meeting will be held in Bute, to be presided over by Barunga West Council CEO Maree Wauchope, after harvest in January. Council will also seek the views of the community via a survey. This consultation will address the future of the Bute Rest Centre, which holds no heritage significance and lacks a dedicated budget for necessary repairs and maintenance.
Ms Wauchope said that, based on a review from May, various options have been presented to Council on how to best utilise the building's potential. A preferred option is to sell the building for up to $180,000. This would generate revenue for the Council and result in savings on insurance premiums, public utilities, and maintenance. All proceeds from the potential sale would be directed toward road upgrades in the district.
A sale would require Council to create a separate allotment, paving the way for housing and enabling a new homeowner to establish a residence in Bute. Other potential uses for the building have been identified, such as accommodation for a mobile workforce or boutique lodging for tourists, especially given its proximity to the award-winning silo art. The potential for a small commercial venture also exists, contingent on the submission and approval of a relevant development application to Council.
Previously in May, staff reported local interest from CFS volunteers to repurpose the building into a cadet training and communication hub. The intent was to not only bolster the CFS's cadet program but also upgrade essential amenities. Under this proposed agreement, the CFS would have been responsible for the maintenance of the facility, including all related costs.
However, after an inspection the CFS has determined the building would need extensive renovations to develop it into a training and communication hub, and chose not to move forward with the lease agreement.
Once a former medical clinic, the Bute Rest Centre has served as a sporadic venue for community meetings since 2019 but remains largely unused.
The Rest Centre building is one of six Council-owned buildings in the township of Bute.