By CASEY NEILL AND LIA SPENCER
GREATER Dandenong’s plans to house the Federation Square of the south-east could be under threat from a rival Casey development, according to councillor Matthew Kirwan.
At the 11 June council meeting he suggested the City of Greater Dandenong should discourage the State Government from funding the City of Casey’s $125 million Cultural and Civic Precinct proposal, which was announced on 5 June.
It will feature a regional theatre with 800 seats, multi-purpose exhibition space, regional art gallery, library, community meeting rooms, civic centre and community plaza.
This is similar to Dandenong’s municipal building project, which is under construction and due to open next year, that will include a library, café, civic offices, retail space, community rooms and a civic square hoped to become a Federation Square of the south-east.
“When I found out about this it was actually quite concerning to me,” Cr Kirwan said of the Casey proposal.
“Will council be writing to members of Parliament talking about our concerns with this project and if I can be so bold, encouraging them not to actually fund it to this size because it does put us as a regional capital under threat?”
Cr Kirwan also said Casey’s regional theatre plans could threatened the redeveloped Drum Theatre in Dandenong.
But community services director Mark Doubleday said the strategic plan for the Drum Theatre took Casey Council’s plans into account and he wished the neighbouring council all the best with its endeavours.
“They probably need to badge it as a regional facility in order to gain Commonwealth and state support and I wish them well with that, as they have supported us as a council with the development of the Noble Park Aquatic Centre (NPAC) and other facilities,” he said.
City of Casey Mayor Amanda Stapledon said her council’s proposal would complement the Dandenong plans.
“Council is confident that the rapidly increasing population and robust arts community to the outer east and south east of Melbourne can support a wide range of community, cultural and civic facilities,” she said.
