The revamp will transform the dilapidated hall into a community hub, providing a bigger, newer space for the existing senior citizens centre and other community activities.

It will also accommodate space for activities run through the Berkeley neighbourhood centre, which will be demolished once the new community centre is finished.

The council has been working with residents since 2013 to draft the refurbishment plans, after it was found the neighbourhood centre had cracks in the walls, structural damage, and the ceiling was sagging almost beyond repair.

‘‘The community feedback was positive and stakeholders were involved in the design of the proposed refurbishments to the community centre,’’ council staff said. 

Tenders for the project were sought more than a year ago, with five companies lodging proposals. The council  staff say Project Coordination (Australia), which has offices in Unanderra, should be awarded the contract.

The centre refurbishment was one of the many projects highlighted as ‘‘underfunded’’ during the council’s controversial financial sustainability review, with one staff member  warning it may never be funded due to the organisation’s financial troubles.

A report to next week’s council meeting says the project will be funded in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 budgets, and is partially paid for  under the government’s Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme. 

Staff have also recommended councillors vote  to accept a $298,000 tender from GC Civil  to repair a pipe at Port Kembla pool.