Talks to begin on OBPS site and community hub management

Published on 20 August 2025

Pyrenees Shire Council has agreed to start talks with the Victorian Government on taking over the Old Beaufort Primary School site and its community hub management.

Council heard at its Monday night meeting that no organisation has come forward to manage the proposed hub, with Council involvement now considered essential to its success.

The Hill Street site is crown land under the management of the Victorian Government who provided $800,000 in 2024 for a site master plan and early works. Council has entered into an agreement with the government to deliver this work, and appointed lead consultant Public Realm Lab.

Two surveys about current Beaufort community facilities and proposed site uses have been conducted since April, with community advocacy group BPS60 also involved in the project. These surveys have attracted a considerable amount of interest in developing the site, and the survey data is currently being analysed.

Last month, BPS60 asked Council to have an expanded role in the site’s management due to financial sustainability and facility management concerns.

On Monday night, a recommendation by Councillor Damian Ferrari was approved that “Council agrees in principle to take control through ownership or other negotiated means of the former Beaufort Primary School site and facility through a process of negotiation with the State Government.”

Council agreed on the basis that the site must be fully refurbished and in a suitable condition to be used by the community prior to management handover, or if it comes with funding to achieve this result.

Mayor Tanya Kehoe said the site had a “wonderful potential future”.

“We’ve seen all the passion of the groups that will benefit from this community hub, and we want to support our community,” Cr Kehoe said.

“We have to step up and begin these negotiations with the State Government to achieve the best possible community outcome.”