This is the date and time that this news article was published.
A community hub at Brierly Recreation Reserve would help ease cost of living pressures while also encouraging greater sports participation.
“We need female-friendly changerooms to help grow and maintain participation in women’s sport and we also need the community hub component,” Warrnambool Mayor Cr Ben Blain said.
“One of the drivers behind the community hub is that we currently have a lack of opportunities to access allied health and community services within the north-east growth corridor.
“The business case found this limits the likelihood of positive and early interventions for people at risk.
“Another driver is that there is a lack of convenient, shared space for organised communal social activities.”
The proposed community hub would have a range of functional multipurpose spaces that will enable a variety of community uses, for people of all age groups in areas including sport, recreation, health and wellbeing, education, arts and more.
“Two-thirds of the facility is expected to be for a diverse range of community uses while the other third would be used for sport and recreation,” Cr Blain said.
“The hub will provide accessible, affordable spaces for residents and groups, close to where they are living, which is vital at a time when the cost-of-living pressures are escalating,” Cr Blain said.
“Our growing city requires more contemporary, purpose-built social infrastructure in locations where the city is expanding.
“Brierly Reserve is the ideal site and we anticipate it will accommodate 1,800 ‘uses’ each year.
“It will be suitable for delivering youth services, maternal and child health services, allied health and other outreach services.
“While the project was being developed more than 50 organisations expressed interest in using the facility while key groups, including the Find Your Voice Collective and Regional Arts Victoria, provided letters of support.
“We know that once built the hub would be quickly embraced and activated by the community.
“And when the area to the east of Aberline Road become available for residential development the need for a community hub at Brierly Reserve will become acute.
“So let’s get it built now. We have detailed concept plans and cost estimates so if this receives Victorian Government support we could really get cracking on building the hub.”