THE Collie Coalfields Museum could be gone by the end of the month.
The shire council has issued an eviction notice to representatives of the Throssell Street museum, with the notice of termination to take effect from June 26, leaving the museum owners without a premises.
The council sent a letter to the museum representatives on May 31, last year, requiring the Coalfields Museum Group to become an incorporated body.
There has been no response, despite repeated requests.
At the last month's council meeting local MP Mick Murray asked what plan the council has to ensure the museum collection was kept in the town.
Shire chief executive David Blurton said legal advice had been sought and the council was effectively a third party to any dispute regarding the ownership of items.
Mr Blurton said the council would be happy to go through a mediation process as long as the museum group was willing to show commitment to becoming incorporated.
The museum has been open for 44 years and contains many historical artifacts donated by local families.
Mr Murray said it will be a sad day for Collie if the museum was lost.
He has implored all parties to sit down and talk about the issue.
"I have been trying to assist to bring the two parties together so the community disaster doesn't go ahead," Mr Murray said.
"The people of Collie have donated to the collection so the last thing we want to see is the group moved off and the collection auctioned."
Mr Murray believes there is room for both parties to come to an agreement and for the collection to be kept in Collie
"The items in the museum are unique in how they have been collected," Mr Murray said.
"It has been done mainly by volunteers who have collected and collated our history and I believe it should stay as a voluntary group."
The shire and museum group had come a long way with the issue, he said.
"I think we're now in a position where we can sit down and come to an agreement.
"I don't think there is any need for them to be moved but at the same time the building does need a lot of work doing to it."
