The residents, with a combined 380 years of age, have lived through and seen many changes in the town and know what is needed for it to progress into the future. 

They believe a community centre should be at the entry to the town and be in keeping with the streetscape.

The residents said they realised the historical importance of the old building which housed the Mechanics Institute and believe it needs to be retained and stripped back to its original structure and then improved upon by updating the facilities to including a visitor information centre, a more accommodating function centre and a new home for the library.

The residents believe this solution will satisfy most people.

An initial meeting to discuss a community centre was held in 2009 but the process has been a long one.

Georgie Patterson said the idea was to bring all community groups together in the one building. 

“We’ve had a few hurdles to jump and funnily enough, we are still the only town in the shire that started the process for a community facility, but is still waiting.”

Kit Manning was on the Hall Committee for 40 years. She ran the hall for most of that time and is keen to see a facility that meets the needs of the rapidly developing town and escalating population.

Similarly, Phyllis Acott, who lives opposite the site, would love to see it rejuvenated. 

Kath Morrison said she is planning on living in Trentham for a long time yet and wants to have her 100^th birthday in the new function centre.

The site is currently the only major events centre in the town, hosting school presentation nights, events like funerals, playgroup and other community events. 

But most of all, the residents want to see the community re-unite after several years of division as a result of dividing opinions on the proposed site.