By LAURA WAKELY
KEILOR traders have called on the Government and Brimbank City Council to preserve a school site that remains unsold three years after its closure.
In a submission to council’s budget, the Keilor Village Traders Association (KVTA) asked Brimbank Council to develop the Calder Rise Primary School site into a community space with a facility for community groups to meet and run classes.
The school closed in 2009 and a spokesperson from the Education Department told Star last week that a buyer for the site has not yet been found.
Other government departments and Brimbank Council do not want to purchase the land.
But KVTA president Virginia Tachos said there are at least five groups in need of a meeting space, including Autism Angels, KVTA and the Keilor Life Activities Group, while others, such as the Keilor Scouts, need more room for their expanding clubs.
“Everything is always booked out, so we don’t have a meeting place for the traders and other clubs as well,” Ms Tachos said.
“Administrators are very happy to punch along money to Sunshine and St Albans. I understand there is a greater demand there.
“But we don’t have a hub and we want one. We pay rates and we want our own space.”
Ms Tachos said existing spaces for hire, such as the bowls club, were inappropriate for holding meetings in and that the municipal offices and library didn’t provide enough space.
She said council had been working with residents in Sunshine who want the former Sunvale school site gifted to council for parkland, but Keilor residents hadn’t had the “opportunity” to explore that option.
The KVTA is not the first group in Keilor to show an interest in the site.
Last year Keilor Residents and Ratepayers Association president Susan Jennison told Star the site would be the “perfect” place for the meetings and that some open space could be preserved, while local resident Duane Bell said the site should be offered to sporting groups.
Residents are concerned high-density housing could be built on the site if it’s purchased by a developer.
“The Department is working closely with the Department of Planning and Community Development to ensure a good outcome for the site is reached as soon as possible,” the Education Department spokesperson said.
