Power Creek Reserve Building - Expression of Interest

No longer on display. Expired on 14 October 2025, 07:00 PM

Council invites ideas to transform a beloved Timboon landmark into a vibrant, inclusive community hub that celebrates connection, creativity, and commercial opportunity.

Expressions of interest (EoI) are sought for an exciting activation opportunity in Timboon.  The former Timboon Senior Citizens centre is a large multi-roomed building that Council is seeking to activate.  The objectives of this EoI process are to:  

  • Activate a key site in Timboon attracting further visitation and enhancing the commercial offer within the town. 

  • Compliment and enhance the landscape setting of the site.  

  • Add to the amenity and attractiveness of  the precinct by updating the existing building with a proposal that integrates well with the natural surroundings.  

Download the prospectus(PDF, 6MB)

Proposed Activation

This versatile building, formerly home to the Timboon Senior Citizens, is now ready for its next exciting chapter. With the group transitioning to the Timboon Bowls Club, this space presents a unique opportunity to reimagine and revitalise a well-loved local landmark.

Over the years, the building has played host to a wide range of community and business events, including Council’s own signature event, Graze the Day. Now, Council is inviting proposals to transform the site into a vibrant, commercially viable, multipurpose community hub.

Imagine a destination that:
- Welcomes everyone with accessible, inclusive design
- Creates a strong sense of place and belonging
- Fosters meaningful intergenerational connections
- Drives prosperity and community wellbeing

Council is open to a variety of uses and is seeking ideas that will activate the site, boost visitation, and enhance the town’s commercial offering, all while complementing the natural beauty and amenity of Power Creek Reserve.

Whether you’re a business, community group, or entrepreneur, this is your chance to shape a dynamic future for Timboon. Let’s bring this space to life, together.

About the Building

The building for lease is approximately 200 sqm. The lease area includes the building and immediate surrounds as per image below. The building includes two large rooms and associated service rooms as per building plan below. The site will have access to the adjacent public car parking spaces and if required lease negotiations can include allocation of one car parking space for delivery uses. The building has power, water and sewage connected.

A building inspection can be arranged on request.

The site is zoned Public Park and Recreation. Dependent on the proposed use a rezoning may be required which Council would undertake.

Planning, Building and Environmental Health permits may also be required dependent on the proposal. The successful respondent would be responsible for all permits which would be subject to standard permit assessments.

Council will work with the respondent, and if rezoning is required would undertake that process.

 

Lease agreement

The successful respondent will be required to undertake all construction, retrofitting and upgrades of the building at their own cost. The construction will need to be generally in accordance with the plans submitted at the EoI stage.

Council will negotiate the final lease period with the successful respondent. However, given the potential building requirements for a new use, it is anticipated that the lease period will of a minimum of ten years with options to extend. Future tenants must pay the relevant authorities directly for all outgoings, including rates, charges and taxes levied against the premises. User charges including water, sewerage, gas and electricity are to be paid directly to the relevant service providers by the tenant.

Council Officers will negotiate the terms and conditions of the lease with the successful tenant, having regard to the Retail Leases Act 2003.

Submit your Expression of Interest

Responses to this Expression of Interest (EoI) are required to address the following criteria and include all information requested within this document to be considered. 

EoI can be submitted via eProcure below:

Submit EoI

1. Details of Proposal 

EOI responses must include a description of the proposed use of the building.  The description should detail: 

  • how the use will activate the area;
  • proposed hours and days of operation; 
  • number of people proposed to use the building, if a use open to the public is proposed, such as a hospitality use, an indication of the number of tables proposed, operating hours, target customers and type of menu on offer;
  • any proposed refurbishments;
  • outline the proposed governance or management structure of the proposal;
  • point of difference that the proposal would bring to Timboon; and/or
  • Community benefit of the proposal

2. Experience

Information on the experience of the company or persons lodging the EoI response. A business plan must be provided. If a hospitality use is proposed, experience relevant to the operation of a food and drinks venue is required. If a use such as a creative industry business is proposed, information on the company or business is required.

3. Financial Capacity

The financial structure of the proposed operation, including estimated costs of refurbishment (where applicable), must be provided. To meet Council contract and procurement requirements the successful applicant must be able to demonstrate that it is financially capable of delivering the project as outlined and has the financial capacity to deliver the proposed outcomes. Council also requires some cash flow modelling of the proposed business use of the site in order to evaluate financial capacity.

4. Proposed terms

EoI responses should include preferred term of lease and proposed rental income.

5. Insurance requirements

Respondents would need to confirm insurance as per table below or confirm willingness to obtain.  

Insurance Type Insurance amount required
Public Liability $20,000,000
Professional Indemnity and Liability  $5,000,000
Workers Compensation Required
Works Insurance Required

Assessment Criteria

Council will assess EOI responses having regard to, not in order of importance:

Degree to which the proposal will activate the area   30% 
Community benefit
(employment, broad economic benefit,
visitation drivers)
20%
Relevant experience of tenant and capacity to develop and
operate the proposed use
20%
Capacity to finance the project 15%
Local content 5%
Point difference 5%
Benefit to Council 5%

Additional information

Process

EOI responses will be assessed by a Council Panel. Dependent on the outcome of the EOI process a further tender stage, including interviews, may be undertaken. This stage allows Council to request further information regarding the proposal of shortlisted applicant/s to ensure the Corangamite community receives best value and a new destination is created. There are a number of steps Council is required to undertake prior to signing a lease including:
  1. EOI process
  2. Evaluation of EOI responses
  3. Tender process (dependent on EOI outcome shortlist of successful EOI respondents may be invited to participate in tender process)
  4. Evaluation of Tender responses
  5. Lease negotiation
  6. Lease advertised (dependent on EOI responses)
  7. Consideration of lease by Council (dependent on EOI responses)
  8. Finalisation of lease

Project timelines

Council understands proposals are may involve significant works to the building. The respondent would need to obtain relevant approvals and complete construction. The timeline below is an estimate only and could be shorter or longer, by negotiation, depending on the successful respondents own schedule.

Event/Task/Milestone  Date
Expression of Interest 15 September - 14 October 2025
Evaluation of Respondents
Terms of lease negotiated and agreed upon by successful respondent and Council  
Obtain all relevant approvals and permits to receive Handover of site  
Complete all physical works and obtain all relevant permits to commence operation from site
 

 

 

EoI can be submitted via eProcure below:

Submit EoI