The figure was revealed during Ballarat City Council’s ordinary meeting on Wednesday night.

Angry ratepayers attended the meeting and voiced their opposition to the centre’s closure.

Council has been reviewing its future and will meet with residents to discuss the building’s condition.

Resident Alex Bayleaf said the centre met many of council’s own policies for providing community amenity and spaces.

“Council wants to support safe and open spaces, support elderly residents and providing community education,” she said.

“What community facilities and open spaces will be available if the it closes?

“It is the only community neighbourhood centre in our area.”

Another ratepayer said the centre had a central location and good storage space that made it ideal for the groups that used it.

“Would council consider keeping the centre open, or as the future is uncertain, can these groups use the centre until a decision?” she said.

“A lot of these groups have had difficulty finding alternative places to meet.”

Council community development director Neville Ivey said no decision had been made and a report would be presented to council in the coming weeks.

“We have had early indications that there would be something like $500,000 to $1 million on the centre to bring it up to standard,” he said.

Mr Ivey said a decision would not be made until after staff met with the centre’s users.

“That report will come to council after a meeting next Tuesday,” he said.