Canowindra's Community Technology Centre (CTC) will appeal to Cabonne Council for funding to keep its doors open.
Centre manager Luke Slattery recently resigned, but is attempting to secure the future of the centre before he leaves.
He is writing a submission to council requesting a one-off $30,000 grant to replace existing technology with updated equipment, and then $10,000 each year to cover operational costs including $3200 of annual insurance, Internet and utilities.
Mr Slattery said the centre would have to close without funding from council.
"There are volunteers willing to operate the centre, but the technology would probably have to be liquidated to cover costs with what's owed with me leaving, because there's about $16,000 of expenses that have to be covered," he said.
"The best hope is to get additional funds from council and keep the place going so it can recuperate those funds."
State Member for Dubbo Dawn Fardell (Independent) is supporting the centre and spoke about its importance last week but also said local government shouldn't be expected to fill a funding shortfall.
"It is difficult to comprehend that after so much fanfare when the community technology centre concepts were launched, governments now should feel the need to back away," she told State Parliament.
"It is another example of cost shifting to local government. Why should Cabonne shire - already carrying a load with the drought and with its ratepayer base - be expected to give $10,000 to keep the community technology centres going?"
The centre has been running for five years and received initial funding of $150,000, but no funding for operational costs during the past three years.
Before the centre opened there was no commercial printer in Canowindra, and the centre now fills that service gap for clubs and businesses.
It also does computer repairs and runs computer courses for seniors and training for high school students to generate income to cover running costs.
Last year it won an award for the community technology centre to train the most seniors during Seniors’ Week.
It also won the 2007 Daroo Awards Excellence in Community Services Award.
Bill and Anne Barwood are two residents who have written to council expressing concern at the possible closure of the centre.
"Luke spends a lot of time with aged people who've never had anything to do with computers before," Mr Barwood said.
"There's a large need for a facility like this, particularly in a town like Canowindra with a lot of older people."
Mrs Barwood had never needed to use computers until her son gave her a second hand computer.
She said the assistance she received from the centre when learning about the new technology was invaluable.
Cabonne Council general manager Graeme Fleming said a report for council's consideration would be prepared once the submission was received.
Email a friend