Leopold hub is making good progress

THE development of Leopold’s hub precinct continues to take shape with construction progressing well. Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville, who inspected the site on Monday, said the hub was coming along exceptionally well.

The project includes the development of a central hub precinct in Leopold that serves as a one-stop-shop for community services for youth, seniors and the transitioning workforce in Leopold and surrounding areas.  A joint project between the Victorian Government and the City of Greater Geelong, it builds on the Stage 1 development of a child and family centre, which opened in 2015.

Stage 2 of the project includes a library, community meeting spaces including a neighbourhood house, youth space and high quality civic open-space development.  It will include a ground-floor library stocked with 15,000 items, and is expected to attract more than 1600 visitors each week, as well as delivering community meeting spaces, a neighbourhood house and youth space.

The first floor will feature meeting rooms and other community spaces, including two areas on an external deck.  The building will be equivalent to a five-green-star rating, with roof mounted solar panels and water-saving plumbing fixtures.

Geelong-based third-general business Lyons Construction was awarded the construction tender in 2017.  Construction is expected to be completed in late 2018, with more than 40 construction jobs generated.