By Christine de Kock
A WEST Footscray parent wants to start a petition to improve the playground facilities at the Occasional Child Care Centre in Buckley St, Footscray.
Robyn Cairns has approached Maribyrnong City Council with a proposal to convert the car park adjoining the centre into a new outdoor environment for staff and children “away from frightening, frequent and heavily polluted truck traffic”.
Mrs Cairns’ son attends the centre two days a week. She said centre staff were “fantastic” and her son “runs into their arms when he gets there”.
But she said the existing asphalt playground, which had only a sandpit, was inadequate.
“They put out little things like trampolines and interesting stuff for the kids to play all the time, which is fine,” she said.
“But I’m talking about creating a more natural environment, like plants to touch.”
Graham Setchell, the facilities projects co-ordinator at the council, said it was unlikely that the car park would be converted into a playground.
“We sold three-quarters of the site to the Salvation Army and we have kept one-quarter of it, which is where the old library is, and so that has got some car parking as part of that of the site,” he said.
“What we are doing with that building is, we are going to make it into a youth centre.
“The actual building will be reconverted and there may be some offices built at the rear of that building.”
Mr Setchell said the car park would be needed for youths, parents of youths and financial and legal counselling professionals who might use the offices.
He said that the council was looking to develop a community facility in Footscray, possibly in Paisley St.
“The hope is that it will be between the library and the Baptist Church,” he said.
There was a strip of council-owned land between the library and the church where the facility could be built.
“What we are doing is working with the church to see if we can put in a community facility. They also want to upgrade their facility; we’re looking at a joint development.”
Mr Setchell said feasibility for the project, or a time frame for the development, had not been decided.
He said that at present the council maintained the Buckley St site to standard, undertaking works on the fire services, disability access, a new suspended ceiling and repainting among other upgrades.
If there was a considerable period of time before the Paisley St community facility was going to be developed then consideration would be given to “further” upgrades of the Buckley St site.
He invited those who would like to comment on the Buckley St site to write to council’s Community Wellbeing department.
