IT\u2019S official, regardless of who wins next month\u2019s Federal election, Sebastopol is getting a new multi-million-dollar community centre.<\/p>\n
The project was confirmed by Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson last Monday when she visited the Sebastopol Senior Citizens Centre and announced $4.5 million had been budgeted for the works by the Federal Government.<\/p>\n
When matched with Labor\u2019s pledge from November 2021 for the same money in their first budget should they win office, the project is all but locked in.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we\u2019re focusing on building a strong economy and a stronger future, we can only do that if we have strong communities,\u201d Ms Henderson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat means keeping communities connected, healthy, together, looking after our physical health and our mental health.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what this community hub is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n
Located on Vickers Street in Sebastopol, the new building is set to cost at least $8 million and will house the local senior citizens centre, an expanded kindergarten, Ballarat Community Health spaces and a Girl Guides group.<\/p>\n
Executive officer of the Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre, Vicki Coltman, said there was a real need for the new space.<\/p>\n
\u201cAn upgrade to this centre is vital,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s been an area that hasn\u2019t had a lot of love and been on the drawing board for a long time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s true to say that Sebastopol has been the poor cousin for the City of Ballarat for a long time. It\u2019s great to see the senior citizens centre getting a revamp and become a community centre for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the Federal Government putting in at least half of the money for the project, the remainder of the funding will fall on the City of Ballarat.<\/p>\n
With a new Sebastopol community centre a priority project for the municipality, City spokesperson and South Ward\u2019s Cr Ben Taylor welcomed the confirmation of the cash.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe great thing is we\u2019ve done the pre-work from a council point of view, we\u2019ve done the proper costing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo have the commitment of $4.5 million today, in writing, means it\u2019s going to go through sooner than a pledge would have.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the money set aside for the new building by the Federal Government, the project will need to pass through a grant application process before the funds can be given to the City of Ballarat, who\u2019ll be undertaking the build, and works can begin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
IT\u2019S official, regardless of who wins next month\u2019s Federal election, Sebastopol is getting a new multi-million-dollar community centre. The project was confirmed by Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson last Monday when she visited the Sebastopol Senior Citizens Centre and announced $4.5 million had been budgeted for the works by the Federal Government. When matched with Labor\u2019s […]<\/p>\n