Manjit Lally (inset) wrote a letter to the mayor, with Turbans 4 Australia proposing to use the old Neighbourhood House building. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Nationwide charity group Turbans 4 Australia has approached Griffith City Council to ask if it can use the former Neighbourhood House building at 80 Benerembah Street as an office.
The request prompted council to review the status of the building, which was previously earmarked for demolition. Other groups are also vying for use of it.
The building, which housed mental health and other support services, was used until 2018, after which a new Griffith Community Centre was constructed, which provides the same services on Olympic Street.
Turbans 4 Australia – a group made up of Indian Sikhs who provide volunteer emergency disaster relief – asked Griffith mayor Doug Curran if it could use the building via a letter from former Griffith councillor and Sikh Manjit Lally.
“Amar Singh, the CEO of Turbans 4 Australia, has indicated there is potential to secure grants from both state and federal governments to fund the refurbishment of the building. I believe this presents a unique opportunity to not only preserve an existing structure but also create a dedicated space for a charity that has been doing impactful work across Australia,” Mr Lally’s letter said.
Turbans 4 Australia has done extensive charity work in Australia, including delivering food supplies to communities impacted by bushfires in 2020 and floods in 2022.
Mayor Curran presented a motion to the ordinary council meeting on Tuesday (25 March) requesting the general manager prepare a report on the demolition of the old Neighbourhood House and a report on all properties owned by council in the local government area.
“I included the letter from Turbans 4 Australia purely to show that there is further interest, not in any way shape or form to say this should proceed or they would be the first option,” he said.
“I feel it is prudent to go out for expressions of interest; I’m not supporting any group above anyone else.”
General manager Brett Stonestreet told the meeting that a previous council applied for grant funding to have the building demolished, but this application was unsuccessful. He also noted the building was on Crown (state government) land.
Deputy Mayor Anne Napoli proposed an amendment to Mayor Curran’s motion to suggest the building could be used by the Multicultural Council of Griffith Inc, a group that provides support to refugees and new migrants.
Mayor Curran said this was “putting the cart before the horse” and that council first needed to work out if it could use the land.
Ms Napoli’s amendment was voted down.
Councillor Mark Dal Bon suggested that a structural report be commissioned to assess the state of the building.
“When you walk into the house, you may as well be riding a wave in Bondi … it is in extremely poor condition,” Mayor Curran said.
All councillors supported the mayor’s motion that the general manager prepare a report on progress on the demolition and another report detailing other properties owned by council, which could potentially be used by a not-for-profit business.
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