When council meets tonight it is expected to support a move to finish the restoration of the Bathurst Fire Station Bell Tower.

It has been asked to allocate $2000 towards the project’s total cost of $12,000, having already chipped in $750 under its 2008-09 Heritage Fund.

So far TAFE students have contributed more than 1000 hours of labour for the restoration with the NSW Fire Brigade also playing a part with funding of $9000 towards the work.

A report to tonight’s Bathurst Regional Council meeting indicates the restored bell tower would be located in front of the new fire station on the corner of Alexander and Suttor Street.

“Council’s heritage advisor has encouraged the project as it will result in the retention of a significant piece of Bathurst’s history,” the report states.

The bell tower was originally located on top of the first station building which stood near the corner of William and Russell Streets, approximately where the civic centre is now located.

When the fire station was demolished, the bell tower was salvaged and put into storage.

According to the report the original bell is being stored within the Old Government Cottage grounds in Stanley Street and the NSW Fire Brigade hopes the bell can be reinstated back within the bell tower.

It is expected the $2000 from council will cover the the re-roofing, reassembling and relocation of the bell tower to outside the new fire station building.

At this stage, works on the bell tower have included its total dismantling and reconstruction.

The deteriorated timber framing and timber cladding have been replaced, additional framing supports have been included, metal weatherproof skirting added at the base and the timber door and frames have been restored.