Hopes new hub sparks change

A NEW community hub was opened on Wednesday in Wendouree by State Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence.

The Wendouree Neighbourhood Centre has an administration and reception area, meeting spaces, training and computer rooms, youth spaces, a kitchen and a function area.

Simon Dwyer, training coordinator at Wendouree Neighbourhood Centre , said it is exciting to open the new space.

“We’ve been around for 40 years, and we’ve just moved across to the new site in the last couple of weeks,” he said.

“It’s been a dream for quite a while to relocate out of the two old houses we were in.”

Mr Dwyer said he hopes the hub will help change Wendouree West.

“One of the problems in this part of Ballarat as it’s old, it’s from the 1950s and 60s,” he said.

“It’s always been a perception of a lack of investment in this area into the community and I think if anything, this really goes against the idea that no one really cares about Wendouree.

“They must because of investing considerable money here in this brand-new site.”

The new facilities have also provided a place for the community to come together.

“We brought the Men’s Shed with us and the Y’s ReCranked program as well.”

Opened alongside the Wendouree Neighbourhood Centre was a new sports pavilion including four female change rooms, one female umpire change room, a canteen, a community space, a first aid room, accessible public toilets and a covered area for spectators.

“These new pitch facilities are a real welcome boost to the more than 100 players from Forest Rangers Soccer Club,” said Ms Spence.

“This is all really fantastic stuff and there’s no doubt these facilities at the Wendouree West Rec Reserve tick all the boxes.”

These projects were funded with $7.5 million from the State Government, $1.3 from the Federal Government and $1.8 million from the City of Ballarat.