AFTER being refurbished by Kogarah Council, Oatley Community Hall is ready for the next chapter of service to the community.
OOSH, the Out of Hours School care people have already moved in, providing much-needed childcare to local parents.
The council's director of governance and corporate services, Evan Hutchings, said the old 1st Oatley Scout Hall had returned to the council after the Scouts' lease ran out and it was decided to convert it into a multi-purpose centre.
He said much of the drive came from West Ward councillor Jacinta Petroni, who was aware Oatley desperately needed a centre such as this.
"It is not often that you get the opportunity to make something happen quickly and smoothly for a positive outcome for the community," Cr Petroni said.
Mr Hutchings said the Scouts had been using the building for about seven hours a week and it was important to have it put to greater use.
He said the Scouts still had use of the building and their own storage area.
The community was encouraged to lease the building for meetings and alcohol-free functions.
However, the Scouts do not seem as happy with the new regime as the council might expect them to be.
A Scout source said they were yet to meet in the hall as the council wanted a lease which had not yet been finalised.
He said the Scouts felt they had been shoved aside in favour of OOSH and because they did not want to get on the wrong side of the council — out of fear of losing other halls — they capitulated without a fight.
"The Scouts rolled over and agreed to leave," the source said.
"It was unseemly how it was done — we built the hall with volunteer labour in 1971 and we built the hall before that in 1957."
