Fire destroys progress hall

The Ettalong Beach Progress Hall has been destroyed by fire.

It was one of two fires lit in the early hours of Thursday, June 23.

Police says they received a number of calls about the fire at the hall at around 5am.

When police arrived the building was completely engulfed in flames.

The fire brigade managed to contain and extinguish the fire shortly after 5:30am.

Three hours earlier, police were notified of a vehicle on fire in Memorial Ave, Ettalong.

The vehicle was destroyed by the fire.

A link has not yet been established between the two fires, but police are treating both as suspicious.

Gosford Council's community services director Mr Terry Thirlwell said he was disappointed to see community assets being set alight.

"It's not something we condone or like to see," he said.

"If it had been deliberately set alight then that would be very disappointing," he said.

Mr Thirlwell said that the council was focused on getting the site safe and securing the building. He said it was too early to discuss rebuilding.

In February, Gosford Council decided to explore the possibility of giving the land on which the hall stood to the adjoining caravan park.

Under the proposal, the hall was to be replaced by a new "multi-use community facility" within the caravan park and the park's lease would be extended to include the land on which the hall stood.

Anyone with information on either of the fires should contact Brisbane Water police on 4323 5599.

Kaitlin Watts, 23 Jun 2011 Interviewee: Inspector Nigel Webber, Terry Thirlwell