Curlewis landowners want answers on hub delay

THE Curlewis Early Years and Community Hub was expected to be open by now but may not be built for at least eight years, and some local landowners and residents are questioning why.

The hub will be in the Jetty Road Urban Growth Area, stage 1 of which has been finished along Tivoli Drive, with stage 2 to be built on large blocks to the immediate west and south of stage 1.

According to the development contributions plan (DCP) for stage 1 in 2011, the hub, with a child and maternal services area and other facilities, had a cost of $3.4 million and was slated to be built in 2022-2023 or when 1,800 lots had been delivered in stage 1.

Earlier this year, the city exhibited Amendment C387 to rezone land to allow for stage 2, including a DCP, which revealed the hub’s timing was now “at 2031 or at an alternative time to be decided by Council if supported by demand evidence”.

The total project cost has also nearly tripled, to just under $10 million.

In a joint statement sent to this newspaper, a group of “concerned Curlewis landowners and community” said the two triggers for the hub to be built – 1,800 lots or the date of 2022-2023 – had both been met.

“There is expectation within the Curlewis community that the hub is coming, and many people bought into the area based on the promise of local community service and amenity within walking distance.

“To date, the Woolworths and some specialty stores have been delivered and the hub is the missing piece in the master plan to activate the precinct.”

“Importantly, it is not clear in the documents which are currently being exhibited or in the letter sent to residents that this important community infrastructure is being deferred, and we are concerned that the general public is completely unaware that they are missing out.”

In response to questions from this newspaper, the City’s acting executive director of planning and design Joanne Van Slageren said demand analysis found new early years services “would not be needed in this area until 2031, as it found there is enough capacity in existing kindergartens across Curlewis, Drysdale and Clifton Springs to meet local needs until this time”.

“Analysis also found that existing community facilities have capacity to meet needs until this time, including the recently completed Boronggook Drysdale Library and Drysdale Community Hub.

“DCP contributions from Jetty Road Stages 1 and 2 won’t cover the full cost of the new hub, so a significant Council contribution will be required”.

She said the new nearly $10 million cost of the hub could be explained by significant increases to materials and costs of construction since the Stage 1 DCP was developed in 2011, especially “due to the volatile global environment of the past three years”.

“Cost estimates have also been updated to consider contemporary objectives such as Environmentally Sustainable Design and Occupational Health and Safety requirements.”

The public exhibition process for the amendment for stage 2 closed on December 18.