TURFED OUT: Date set for Milne Bay Military Museum eviction

DEFENCE Minister Marise Payne has set an eviction date for the Milne Bay Military Museum.

SUPPORTERS SIGN: Milne Bay Military Museum president Marian Jones with many signatures to save the museum. Thursday, 5th Jul, 2018. Picture: Nev Madsen

DEFENCE Minister Marise Payne has set an eviction date for the Milne Bay Military Museum.

The museum and its committee have been in limbo since its November 2016 closure over Workplace Health and Safety issues and missing WWI and WWII firearms.

What was initially meant to be a six-week closure became indefinite after the department reportedly told the committee it wanted its land back, as the museum was a public organisation, not a defence museum.

Milne Bay Military Museum committee president Marian Jones said the committee had received two emails, one from Defence Minister Marise Payne and another from the Department of Defence's assistant secretary property manager, saying they must vacate the museum by September 28. 

The army has offered the possibility of monetary support to help the museum move its items to another location.

But after a meeting last night, the committee has decided to soldier on.

They want the museum to remain at its corner on Anzac Ave and O'Quinn St. 

"We're not going to go down. We are willing to fight this battle," Mrs Jones said. 

Since April, the museum as amassed 16,000 signatures calling for the Department of Defence to donate the land and museum to Toowoomba Regional Council.

That petition has another two weeks to run, and the committee aims to table it in parliament. 

Those wanting to sign the petition can do so at Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki's office at 566 Ruthven St, Toowoomba.

Originally published as TURFED OUT: Date set for Milne Bay Military Museum eviction