Work begins on future Sebas hub

A GATHERING of community members at the future site of the Sebastopol Community Hub last Friday was all about getting a look at the latest designs for the public facility.

City of Ballarat mayor Cr Des Hudson, State Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison, Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King, and Sebastopol Senior Citizens Club secretary Bev Lovett were on site.

The old building was demolished in May with the tender process currently underway and a builder is expected to be appointed in August.

“This is a fantastic and exciting opportunity for the Sebastopol community having a brand-new hub that will replace the old, tired senior citizens building,” said Cr Hudson.

“What it’s going to do is absolutely re-vamp the precinct here.”

The facility is expected to be complete in late 2025 or early 2026 and will be home to Sebastopol Senior Citizens and the 1st Sebastopol Guides.

The hub will also have three kindergarten rooms, a main hall, three meeting rooms, maternal and child health consulting rooms, a community kitchen and an outdoor play space.

The project was funded with $5 million from the City of Ballarat, $4.5 million from the State Government and a further $4.5 million from the Federal Government.

Ms Addison said it’s great to have facilities for young and old in the same place.

“What’s really important for us is making sure we have fantastic early years programs rolled out through the whole of Ballarat,” she said.

“What I love most about this project is that we are going to

have kinder kids working alongside senior citizens and all ages in between.”

Ms Lovett said facility will be a great home for the growing Sebastopol Senior Citizens Club.

“It’s going to be so exciting for the seniors because they love getting together in a social group and the new facility here will be wonderful,” she said.

“Since the pandemic we have lost lots of people which is a real shame, but we have been picking up again and they are all excited about going into a new place.”