Walter Villagonzalo at the Mambourin gardens. 61635 Picture: SARAH MATRAY
By XAVIER SMERDON
ONE of Wyndham’s newest and most successful community support groups will be homeless for the second time in as many years after they were given notice to move out of their current location by the end of this year.
The Migrant Hub was set up by residents in 2009 to offer support to migrants settling in Wyndham and help them integrate better into the community.
In December last year they had to move from the shipping container in Hoppers Lane in Werribee that they worked out of.
At the last minute they were given a lifeline by the charity Mambourin Enterprises and were allowed to use the council-owned sensory gardens.
Founder of the Migrant Hub, Walter Villagonzalo said the group recently received a notice to vacate the premises by the end of the year to make way for an overnight respite centre for disabled people that Mambourin is planning to build near the gardens.
“We respect Mambourin Enterprises’ prerogative to terminate the agreement to establish a respite centre,” Mr Villagonzalo said.
“We thank the Mambourin board for allowing us to use the facility for the last nine months, but we feel the management team of Mambourin have treated us unfairly.”
But CEO of Mambourin, Rohan Braddy, told Star that the agreement struck between the two groups was never intended to be a permanent arrangement.
“Naturally we dispute the claim that we have treated the Migrant Hub unfairly,” Mr Braddy said.
“We gave them three months notice even though the agreement stated that we only needed to give them seven days notice.”
Mr Braddy also rejected claims that the gardens did not suit a respite centre as a location, saying that the need for overnight respite in Wyndham was urgent.
“Our gardens are ideally located to utilise a range of surrounding facilities including the Recreation Centre, the Mambourin Café and public transport,” he said.
“Of course, the safety of visitors and staff is a priority, so unfortunately the cafe and gardens will have to close during the construction period.”
