Pledge for Islamic community centre

A FIT out of the Bendigo Islamic Community Centre would be completed under a Labor Federal Government local member Lisa Chesters has said.

Plans have been developed to construct a $5.5 million community centre and mosque in East Bendigo, but only the shell of a community centre currently stands as part of stage one works.

Ms Chesters and Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Andrew Giles, last week announced a $100,000 grant to fit out the community space if their party wins government come 21 May.

Far right groups have held protests against the project since its planning approval by council in 2014, but community centre spokesperson Dr Aisha Neelam said times were changing.

“The Bendigo community is very diverse and has a very proud tradition now, a growing tradition of tolerance and respect for each other and we hope this community centre and the subsequent mosque that is associated with it… can be built soon,” she said.

Dr Neelam said the building would be used for gatherings, replacing community members’ houses and rented spaces used in the past decade to meet.

The community centre also requires an intersection and car park before it can become usable, and more money is needed to complete construction of the entire project.

Ms Chesters said conversations had already started around potential future funding.

“I’ve reached out to Labor’s other shadow ministers to say ‘if we’re successful on the 21st… I’d really like you to meet with the Bendigo Muslim community to learn how other parts of our government could be part of this project’,” she said.