By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
ALBANIAN Eagles Youth Centre is set to move to a bigger home after Greater Dandenong councillors voted down council planners’ parking concerns.
At a council meeting on Monday night, more than 200 of the centre’s supporters packed the gallery.
Jemal Abazi, a successful businessman who runs and funds the Dandenong South centre, was frustrated with council planners after 18 months of hold-ups.
“I think the council (officers) realised the councillors will go for it and met us in the middle.
“Obviously if you can’t come up with solutions and then come up with something in one day – I question what they are doing there.
“If (the applicant) was someone else other than me, the (proposal) would have collapsed and died. That’s the sad situation.”
At the meeting, Cr Roz Blades led an alternate motion in support of the centre moving several hundred metres, to 25-27 Bryants Road, Dandenong South.
Cr Blades said the centre was an “essential use”, which provided a place “that felt like a family” for young people.
She said the council’s strong youth team couldn’t “do it on our own”.
“We need people who are nurtured, who have somewhere to go.
“They’re our future.”
Cr Peter Brown said more parking would be available at an adjacent lot owned by applicant Jemal Abazi.
He noted the area was zoned for light industry, so would have less impact on neighbouring residents.
Cr Loi Truong called for council funding for the centre – which has cost about $700,000 over the past four years without any government money.
In opposition, Cr Matthew Kirwan said permit conditions, which limited the centre to 50 patrons and staff as well as closing times of 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 10pm on other days, were not strict enough to protect neighbours.
Cr John Kelly said he opposed the permit because of a lack of parking, though “everyone around this table appreciates the good work Jemal is doing”.
A council planners’ report recommended rejecting the permit due to a lack of parking and excessive noise for neighbouring residents.
Two objections were lodged against the proposal; one of them was a resident living directly opposite.
The centre, currently in a cramped warehouse at 11 Bryants Road, offers gym equipment, arcade games, a pool table and table tennis table.
Healthy hot food cooked by volunteers is also available.
Mr Abazi told the Journal last week that the proposed larger centre would allow for separate sections for males and females to work-out, as well as extra pool and table tennis tables.
It will also help entertain the overflow of visitors who mill outside the current centre’s front door.
“I try to hold them here for as long as I can. We tire them out so they end up just going home,” Mr Abazi said last week.
“Before this centre opened, we had a huge problem with drugs, hooning, alcohol, family issues – ice is the biggest.
“You saw kids identify themselves with young people going to jail.
“I said to myself we have to do something about this. There are now so many success stories.”
