SOME of Dandenong’s key community groups are being cramped in “antiquated” and “inadequate” buildings, a Greater Dandenong councillor says.
Cr Matthew Kirwan said new lodgings must be found for Dandenong’s child and maternal health service, neighbourhood house and historical society.
He described the health service, with its two clinics and a toy library crammed in a semi-detached 1940s building in Clow Street, as “providing a great service in an antiquated set-up”.
Its waiting area was crowded into a small lounge room and paled next to the early-years hub in Springvale, with integrated child care, kindergarten, maternal and child health and a toy library, Cr Kirwan said.
“Dandenong has been revitalised in so many ways. We’re developing it as a regional centre but for people living in Dandenong, the community services aren’t keeping up. These buildings are not fit for purpose.”
He said there was “thought of having a community hub to deal with it all” in future years, but a decision needed to be made now to plan and finance the project.
Dandenong Neighbourhood House manager Robyn Koslovich said its King Street base was not large enough to cater for an expanding program.
About 200 asylum seekers on bridging visas visit the neighbourhood house for English classes each week.
Dandenong and District Historical Society president Chris Keys said researchers were forced to work in a corridor because of a lack of space at the Tom Houlahan Centre in Foster Street.
The society had also had to cap its volunteers .
The council’s community services director Mark Doubleday said a community facility infrastructure study for Springvale and central Dandenong in 2011-12 included an option of an integrated community hub in both areas.
He said the study was a “medium to long-term planning guide”.
“While some council community service facilities were developed some time ago and over time will require replacement, all facilities are maintained for appropriate community service use.”
What do you think? Post a comment below.
