By Candice Boyle
THE future of the Yarraville Community Centre (YCC) has been placed into the hands of many to find a way to save the historic building and community services.
A working group has been formed to step up the efforts to ensure funding for the icon is secured before the November deadline set by the Maribyrnong City Council.
If funding is not secured by the deadline, the council will resign from the committee of management and hand the building back to the State Government.
But, according to the working group, a plan has been put in place to safeguard the building’s future.
YCC representatives, community members and representatives from the Maribyrnong City Council and the State Government have been included in the working group committed to ensuring the services and the building remain a fixture in Yarraville.
The YCC management team said the collaborative approach from local and State Government was a positive step in securing the future of the centre.
“We are very pleased that State and Local Government are now working together with the YCC to explore the options for the continuation of the ongoing programs and services,” the team said.
An independent facilitator has been appointed to chair and support the working group who will help prepare a progress report to present to councillors at next week’s ordinary meeting.
City of Maribyrnong mayor Michael Clarke said although plenty of work remained, residents could be assured the working group was doing its best to ensure the future of the service.
“All of the members of the working group recognise how important this centre is to our community, which sees it as a home for educational and employment programs, arts and recreation, occasional childcare and social support,” he said.
Cr Clarke said the working group was also taking every opportunity to progress applications to secure funding for the building.
“The estimated cost of refurbishing the centre is $4 to $5 million and council has committed – in principle – $1 million from a future budget towards that, providing that matched funding comes from the State or Federal Governments,” he said.
