The $369,000 Saint Albans Hall upgrade at Running Creek will be officially opened on Sunday, 14 November. The Saint Albans Hall committee, lead by President Esther Trustum will host the official opening of the hall at 1.30pm to celebrate the completion of the newly refurbished building. Features of the extension and upgrade include new indoor toilets, a new kitchen, a new outdoor area and playground, increased water storage and a new car park still under construction.

Planning for the project lasted several years, while construction has lasted 10 months. Manager Community Services Trevor Britten said it was pleasing that the whole project would be completed in time for Christmas. “Council is extremely happy to have this upgraded facility ready for use by the Running Creek community,” he said. “The Saint Albans Hall committee deserves a lot of credit for the way it has worked together to get the upgrade completed. “The members have donated a lot of their own time and raised a significant amount of money for the wider benefit of the community. “It is always pleasing to see a project successfully completed due to a community working together. “The upgrade will cater for a range of community groups, activity organisers and residents by providing a quality meeting place.” The Saint Albans Hall upgrade was funded by   The Victoria Bushfire Appeal Fund ($292,000) The Department of Planning and Community Development ($50,000) The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal ($5,000) The Saint Albans Hall Committee of Management ($12,000) Alpine Shire Council ($10,000)   Other communities currently working on halls are Freeburgh, Mudgegonga and Rosewhite. The Freeburgh Hall construction is well underway while the Mudgegonga and Rosewhite designs are progressing. The Saint Albans Hall at Running Creek is located on the Kiewa Valley Highway about 55 kilometres south of Wodonga.