More support for multicultural facilities

TWO local facilities will receive State Government funding in the latest round of Multicultural Community Infrastructure Fund grants.

Premier and Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan and Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards have jointly announced more than $460,000 will to be allocated to the Bendigo Islamic Community Centre and the Golden Dragon Museum.

The community centre will receive $400,000 to continue construction of its new facility, while the museum will use its allocation to help pay for a masterplan to guide its future.

The masterplan will include a review of infrastructure, operations and visitor engagement at the museum, which is highly valued by Bendigo’s Chinese community and a tourism icon in its own right.

“One of the things I love about Bendigo is our diversity, which is why we’re proud to be supporting the Bendigo Islamic Community Centre and Golden Dragon Museum so they continue to grow,” Ms Allan said.

“The awful and senseless vandalism last month was deeply disrespectful to our Chinese community, and today is about harnessing the confidence and optimism that I know the community shares about its future.”

Ms Edwards said the Golden Dragon Museum can now map out ways to attract even more visitors to Bendigo.

The fund aims to support Victoria’s multicultural community organisations to have safe and secure places to celebrate and share their history and traditions, to build connections, and thrive.

Up to $400,000 in funding is available for community organisations to upgrade, renovate, extend or build multicultural community infrastructure.

This year, the fund is encouraging organisations to take an inclusive and intersectional approach to their projects and is prioritising new and emerging, and regional or rural multicultural communities, and projects focused on achieving positive outcomes for women and gender-diverse people.

The long-running Islamic centre project has already received more than $1 million in State Government funding. Plans to build the centre were announced in late 2013.

The development, on industrial land in East Bendigo, includes community spaces, a cafe, a library and a prayer hall for up to 375 worshippers, with associated support rooms.