The Cobargo Quaama Business Recovery Group has worked with the Business Council of Australia (BCA) and the Cobargo Co-op to facilitate the build.

The parcel of land on the north-facing side of the Cobargo Co-op was donated by the Co-op, which has some 1600 community members as shareholders.

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The site was being used as an advertorial space for their goods, but they were approached as it had all the utilities necessary such as water, sewerage, power, and WiFi.

"The Co-op felt like we are a community-owned business, so we need to support the community and our vision was that the best thing we can do is get these retailers, whose businesses were utterly destroyed, continuing on with what they had for the benefit of them, our community, and Cobargo town," Co-op chairperson June Tarlinton said.

The Co-cop had developed the southern side of the property and so could spare the north side for use by the community.

Almost $800,000 was donated by the BCA through its BizRebuild program for the build, with significant contributions from the Co-op, and the CQBRG.

Despite delays due to some planning issues, Co-op director and project manager John Walters said the commencement of the project came at a good time seeing as though some of the businesses would not have been able to operate affectively under COVID restrictions.

"The business owners have already had to deal with the tragedy of loosing their businesses and their livelihoods and also deal with COVID, so their opportunities to get set up again, several of them did try some little pop-up shops, but when COVID hit they went back down into shut-down," said Mr Walters.

The hub will be built using bushfire resilient technology that could be applied commercially and residentially.

"It is a new concept of bushfire resilient buildings so that's why it's called the Innovation Hub. It's a steel product and this company has perfected the way to bend Colorbond at a right angle and have a perfect seam so that you don't get bushfire embers into the corners of the house," said Mr Walters.

It is being built off site and will be delivered in modules meaning it will be a much quicker build.

Where a building of this scale might usually take between six and nine months, the Innovation Hub is looking to be completed by March 2022.

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The plumbing, electricity, concreting and civil works are being completed by local tradies.

Secretary-treasurer of the CQBRG Narelle Cooper was also one of those business owners who lost her shop, South Coast Leather, and huge amounts of stock when the fires struck.

She said the Hub would allow business owners to take a deep breath and get back on their feet to start the long process to repair their businesses.

Around five businesses have already started agreements with the CQBRG. They will be expected to pay a contribution to the rent but at a reduced market rate and will receive business and marketing mentorship.

"We want to foster them and create an environment of support so that when the time comes the can migrate back to the main street," said Mr Walters.

Once the main street is rebuilt and shop owners are able to return, the Hub will be used a community centre.