By ALESHA CAPONE
THE Keilor Village Traders’ Association has called on Brimbank City Council to establish a community hub in their suburb.
The association’s Elisa Fois-Sciberras said when council staff leave their Old Calder Highway municipal offices in Keilor, the buildings could be converted to a community hub.
The council is planning a future move which would see most of their employees housed in a central location at the redeveloped Sunshine Library site.
Ms Fois-Sciberras said Keilor traders would also like the former Calder Rise Primary School site – owned by the Department of Education – to be made into a community hub, but the council offices could serve the same purpose.
“It’s something we’ve seen as important to the area. Keilor is the only suburb in the municipality which doesn’t have a hub,” Ms Fois-Sciberras said.
“It is really something the majority of Keilor residents want and will utilise when it is there.
“It would really create a sense of community pride. I think it’s really crucial that it does happen.”
Ms Fois-Sciberras said Keilor has many sports services, but needed somewhere for cultural purposes, artistic events, meetings and activities for young people.
“I live in Keilor and I feel like I have to go into Sydenham or Sunshine or St Albans to access those services,” Ms Fois-Sciberras said.
“I’m coming as someone who grew up with a community hub in Moonee Valley and I would like my son and other children in the area to have a place like this to go.
“I think it is something that is really important for the area and the benefits would far outweigh the costs.”
Brimbank City Council’s director of infrastructure and environment, Paul Younis, said the council was “very keen to work with the Keilor community to provide a community hub that provides services that the community has wanted for a long time.”
“However we are in the early stages of our planning and are committed to open consultation with the Keilor community regarding the opportunities for future community use of the existing Keilor building,” he said.
“Some initial ideas include retaining a customer service presence, an expanded library and plenty of meeting space.”
