Full Terms of Use | Community House

Terms of Use

Thank you for choosing to use the Buninyong Community House (BCH). This facility is proudly provided by the Community Bank Buninyong for approved community organisations to meet, work, connect, collaborate and create all for the betterment of our local community.

The Community House is managed by a volunteer Committee and is therefore not attended. Community groups need to take full responsibility of the facility both for themselves and others. Please ensure you read the following information to ensure your experience is enjoyable.

All user groups are accepted on the basis that they have read, understood and agree to abide by, and be bound by, the following Terms of Use (including House Rules). Failure to comply with any one or more of these conditions will constitute a breach and will result in a forfeit of the right to use this facility.

These Terms refer to the “User” and “User Group” as the same (the approved organisation, its representatives and guests).

Applications

Each application for use must be made on the required Application Form, signed by the applicant, stating the purpose and requirements, and containing the applicant's undertaking to comply with these conditions of use.

Applications made on behalf of an organisation or body of persons, the applicant shall state the name of such organisation and the authority of the applicant for making such application, together with telephone numbers of the applicant. The person making application on behalf of the organisation will then be liable to ensure compliance with these conditions of hire.

Approved Use

The Community House must only be used for private community group use and the number of persons must not exceed 78 (max 60 persons conference room, max 18 persons meeting room). No functions or parties may be conducted at the property. Exceeding the stated number of persons on the premises will result in termination of your booking and you being required to leave the premises immediately.

Tentative Bookings

Tentative bookings will be held for up to 14 days. A booking is only when confirmed when a written confirmation is issued.

Fees

The Community House is provided free of charge to approved not-for-profit and for-purpose organisations. Commercial organisations are able to hire the facility for a fee as described below. Fees are required to be paid online at the time of booking.

Cancellation

The user may cancel a booking by managing bookings under their platform profile at ww.communityhouse.com.au as soon as practically possible. Commercial users must cancel bookings at least 3 days prior to the booked date(s), otherwise a full fee of usage shall be charged.

It is a condition of use that the user group agrees to accept our right to cancel any booking and the user group will be held to have consented to such cancellation and to have no claim at law or in equity for any loss or damage in consequence of such cancellation. If applicable any refund shall be at the sole discretion of the Committee whose decision shall be final.

Booking Times

The times booked must include set up time and last person out. This is to ensure the effective use of the house for all groups. Any use of the facility after the booked time may be charged for at the appropriate commercial rate (if applicable). Such charges must be paid within 7 days of the issue of the invoice.

Not Permitted

Gambling: No game of chance, at which, either directly or indirectly, money is passed as a prize, shall take place in any portion of the facility, without first obtaining our consent.

Smoking: The Community House is a smoke-free property. Smoking is not permitted inside the building, inside the courtyard or within 5 metres from doors or window openings.

Noise & Amplified Music: Amplified music is not permitted. Amplified music is any music, which can be heard outside the confines of the conference or meeting room. Immediate termination of your booking may apply in the event of unnecessary or excessive noise, nuisance or disturbance caused to neighbouring properties.

Disorderly Behaviour: No obscene or insulting language, or disorderly behaviour shall be permitted in any part of the property. We reserve the right to remove such offenders and any costs associated with the removal must be paid by the user.

Animals: No animals shall be allowed in the house or its precincts without our consent.

Alcohol

Users proposing that liquor be sold associated with the use of the facility, require a “Limited License” from Liquor Licensing Victoria. Applicants for such a licence should allow for at least 4 weeks for this body to process their application. A copy of this license must be presented 14 days prior to the function. The liquor licence must be displayed where the alcohol is being sold for the duration of the event. It is the responsibility of the user group to ensure compliance with liquor licensing legislation.

Furniture, Fittings, Damage & Missing Items

All furniture and equipment remain the property of Community House Buninyong Management Inc and will not be rented out, removed or relocated outside of the house.

The floor, walls or any other part of the facility, or any curtains, fittings or furniture, shall not be broken, pierced by nails or screws or in any manner or other way damaged, and no scenery, fittings or decorations of any kind shall be erected in the facility or attached to or affixed to the walls, doors or any other portion of the facility, curtains, fittings or furniture, mechanical, electrical or other equipment. No tape or adhesives are permitted.

The user will be liable on demand to pay the full cost of cleaning and or repairs occasioned by damage to the facility or any furniture or fittings as a result of use.

The user will leave the facility in a neat and tidy condition and all fixtures in good working order and condition, and immediately place all rubbish and waste matter, in plastic bags within the garbage bins provided. If this is not done, we shall be entitled to have the facility cleaned or put in order and the cost of doing so will be paid by the user.

Any such breakages, damage or loss must be reported IMMEDIATELY to hello@communityhouse.com.au and either replaced to the satisfaction of Community House Buninyong Management Inc or paid for by your organisation (or representative).

In the instance of an insurance claim, you will be responsible to cover the cost of insurance excess of $250.

Equipment & Appliances

No electrical installations, appliances any kind shall be brought into the facility without our consent. Users must provide on the application a request for additional equipment which they propose to bring into the facility.

In the event electrical equipment and appliances brought in by the user causes electrical or building failure, the user will be liable on demand to pay the full cost of repairs occasioned by damage to the facility as a result of use.

Security & Access

The user is responsible for keeping the security code private and not providing this code to anyone. At the conclusion of the meeting or by arrangement, security needs to be armed, all windows and doors are to be locked and lighting and appliances switched off when leaving the premises.

Users can access the property through either the front or rear doors. Call out fees will apply if security is called after-hours.

Theft

We shall NOT be liable for any loss or damage sustained by the user, or any person, firm, corporation entrusted to or supplying any article or thing to the user by reason of any such article being stolen, damaged or lost and the hirer agrees to indemnify us against any such actions.

Directions

The user and persons under his, her or its direction shall forthwith obey all directions or orders given by Community House Buninyong Management Inc to the management of the facility and functions being conducted therein. The user shall be held responsible for the actions of all and every person attending the meeting.

Right of Access

The right of free access to any part of the facility at all times is reserved to the Committee of Community House Buninyong Management in the instance that urgent access or repairs is required. Similarly, access is granted to the house at all times for paid employees of Buninyong & District Financial Services Ltd.

Use of the house is not exclusive and more than one group may use different rooms at the same time. Full cooperation and communication between the groups is required in these instances.

Insurance Release & Indemnity

The user must take out public liability insurance. The user must supply a certificate of currency for Public Liability insurance 7 days prior to use. If the user does not have its own Public Liability Insurance the user must notify us prior to using the facility.

The user is responsible for any accident, loss, damage sustained to any person or property or any injury sustained by any person using any part of the facility during the currency of use, notwithstanding that such event arose from or by reason of any defect in the furniture, fittings or other accessories of any kind, and the hirer hereby forever releases, discharges, indemnifies, and holds harmless Community House Buninyong Management Inc (Buninyong & District Financial Services Limited) against all claims and demands made or the costs or expenses incurred in connection therewith. Without limiting the former that includes:

any legal liability whatsoever arising from the participation or use by the user and/or any other persons associated with the user,

and in the activity of conducting the business operation at, and / or occupying the facility and in all activities in connection therewith, due to any cause;

any and all loss, damage, expenses, claims, demands, actions and causes whatsoever which might be made or instituted or suffered or incurred or sustained by any person or body for injury, loss or damage arising in any manner for the said participation or use;

all loss or damage to any property, buildings, equipment or materials and/or any other persons on or outside the location caused by the hirer and/or any persons associated with the hirer due to the said participation or use; and

any and all loss, damage, injury or illness, including death, sustained or incurred by the and/or any person associated with the hirer arising in any manner from the said participation or use/hire or occupation.

In addition, the user must not do or neglect to do or permit to be done or leave undone anything, which will affect our insurance policy or policies relative to fire or public risk in connection with the facility. The user hereby indemnifies Community House Buninyong Management Inc (Buninyong & District Financial Services Limited) to the extent that such policies are affected through any such act of commission or omission.

Privacy

We collect information for the purpose of registering the booking. The personal information collected will only be used to communicate with the applicant for use or for regulatory, safety or other lawful purposes. Failure to provide this personal information may result in the application not being processed.

The type of information collected includes names, contact information and payment details (if applicable). All information is collected for the purposes of administrating and managing a booking enquiry and for these purposes only. The information collected is not passed onto any third party and all reasonable attempts are made after the event to discard (delete or shred) personal information not required for administrative/business purposes. We take necessary measures in order to protect your personal information from loss, misuse, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

Breaches of Conditions of Hire

Any person committing a breach of any one or more of these conditions of use may be expelled from the facility. The user must bring this to the attention of all persons attending the meeting.

Disputes

In the event of any dispute or difference arising as to the interpretation of these conditions of use or any matter or thing contained therein, our decision shall be final and conclusive.

Amendment of Conditions of Hire

Users are advised that we may amend conditions of use without notice at any time. Notwithstanding this, when conditions are amended every effort will be made to inform all users.

2hr 4hrs 8hrs

Meeting Room $30 $60 $100

Conference Room $50 $100 $200

Operational Instructions

Car Parking

Some car parking is available at the rear of the building for Community House users only (including a disabled park). Alternative parking is available on Warrenheip Street or Forest Street.

Users can access the house via the front or rear doors. The security panel is located on the wall in the conference room.

What to Bring

The Community House has a fully equipped kitchen with appliances, crockery and cutlery. There are toilet facilities on site (including all-access) and wi-fi access.

You are required to bring all personal belongings and effects (including electronics and computers). There is an interactive smart board in the conference room which requires careful use and reading of instructions (to work collaboratively with your tech).

Cleaning

Bookings are accepted on the basis that users and guests treat the property with the same respect as they would their own. Users are required to leave the premises clean and in excellent condition ready for the next group to occupy without complaint. Any additional cleaning expenses will be charged without further notice if the rules are not complied with.

If groups have excessive rubbish after filling the garbage bin or recycling bin please take it with you.

The Community House is professionally cleaned periodically, however responsibility sits with the user group to leave the property clean (including all used kitchen items).

Personal Property

Please remember to take personal property and belongings with you as Community House Buninyong Management Inc accepts no responsibility for any such items left behind.

Fire Safety

Buninyong and district can be a high-risk bushfire area particularly during the warmer months. We provide information below in the unlikely event of a threatening bushfire. This is your responsibility to read, understand and become familiar with what to do in this situation.

We encourage users to download the Emergency Vic App on your phone, listen to the local radio station and attend community meetings to stay informed regarding any fire threats. We also issue you with a Fire Awareness & Evacuation Plan (below).

In the instance you need to evacuate the Community House, we ask you to follow the Fire Awareness & Evacuation Plan doing what you can to secure the property before you leave. The priority is always our users’ wellbeing.

House Rules

The Community House is for everyone. It’s for community groups to congregate, collaborate and create wonderful things for our community. As an accepted Community House approved user group, you also assume responsibility.

We want you and others to enjoy your experience at the Community House. All users and guests are expected to treat the property and its contents with care and respect. The following House Rules form part of the Terms of Use and set expectations in relation to user responsibility.

The Community House Rules are:

All users have read, understand and agreed to abide by the Terms of Use, including these House Rules.
Strictly no smoking on the premises nor parties or functions. Similarly, no animals allowed on the property (without our consent).
The number of persons in the Community House at any given time must not exceed 78 (max 60 conference room, max 18 meeting room). Government Health Guidelines must also be adhered to if in force eg: Covid requirements.
Users and guests are expected to behave appropriately. Any illegal, morally questionable or socially unacceptable actions or behaviour is not permitted and groups will be asked to leave immediately.
Demonstrated care and responsibility for the appropriate and safe use of appliances and equipment.
Any damage is to be reported immediately to hello@communityhouse.com.au
When vacating the house you are required to leave it fit for the next group to use (leaving the premises as you found it) including:
Ensuring all appliances, lights, heating/ cooling and equipment are off
- Putting rubbish in the outside bins (rear of house)
- Cleaning the kitchen (including ensuring dishes have been washed and put back in cupboards)
- Returning seats to tables and tidying the spaces you occupied
- Vacuuming the floors and cleaning the BBQ (if used)
- Locking all doors and windows
- Activating the alarm and security system on exit.

Refer to the equipment operating instructions and manuals when needed.
Read and become familiar with the Fire Awareness & Evacuation Plan.
In case of emergency call 0419 301 343. Security call 1300 555 859.

Bushfire Safety & Evacuation Plan

Buninyong is situated in a uniquely beautiful part of the world, but may be at risk of bushfire during the warmer months. Please do not be alarmed or panic as incidents are very rare. We just like our users to be as vigilant as possible.

We recommend that users:

Keep informed on the weather forecast and total fire ban days (remember the Community House is a strictly no smoking property). Talk to the local CFA for information (Learmonth St, Buninyong)
Develop your survival and evacuation plan (eg: where will you evacuate to, which roads will you use to leave etc)
Keep informed by downloading the Emergency Vic app to your mobile phone and activating alert notifications
Monitoring emergency.vic.gov.au for information and updates if fire activity is in the area
Calling the Bushfire Information Line on freecall 1800 240 667.

Evacuation

Our users’ wellbeing and safety is of primary concern in the event of bushfire. In the unusual circumstances that you need to evacuate the Community House due to bushfire threat, you should leave early to ensure your safety.

Begin to prepare if emergency services issue a ‘Watch & Act’ status. If you are recommended to evacuate by emergency services it is compulsory for all Community House users to evacuate.

In the rare instance you need to evacuate, we ask that you give yourself plenty of time and prepare the property as best you can for defence.

This includes:

Turning off all lights and appliances (including air conditioners and heaters)
Closing all windows and doors and drawing the blinds down
Packing your own personal belongings and removing these from the property when you leave.
Ensure you are wearing appropriate clothing (eg: head to toe, cotton and wool) and footwear and have access to bottled water and woollen blankets if you have them.
We will then monitor to determine if and when it’s safe to return to the Community House if you are part way through your booking.

Naturally the above tasks rely on a common sense approach and are subject to having time to evacuate. Again personal wellbeing and safety remains the priority.

Be Aware, Alert and Stay Safe.