By Ann Marie Angebrandt
A $17,000 study will look at linking Heathdale’s community facilities.
The Hoppers Crossing neighbourhood’s community centre, kindergarten, neighbourhood house, school and sports club are all within walking distance, but they are run as distinct organisations.
Anne Walters, the chairwoman of the Heathdale Neighbourhood Association, said linking the existing facilities and adding new ones had been on the cards for a long time and were long overdue.
“No one has ever thought of it as a single community before, but there are so many benefits,” she said.
“The idea is to improve what we’ve got and add some things that we don’t have in the area.”
Resident Maggie McInnes said Heathdale, home to about 7000 residents, ideally needed a multi-million- dollar community hub that would incorporate the various facilities.
“That’s probably a pipedream but the study will look at all possibilities, she said.
“Even if it’s just joining the facilities we already have with shaded paths, it’ll be an improvement,” she said.
Ms McInnes said while the Glen Orden sports club offered activities for men, netball courts and women’s sports were unavailable.
“Residents are leaving the area to get to things they can’t get here,” she said.
Ms Walker said the nearby Glen Orden wetlands were a magnificent asset that could be better promoted to the wider community.
“We’re eventually hoping to have things like a tea room before visitors go to the wetlands,” she said.
The Department of Victorian Communities provided the money for the study.
