Hub of activity: Construction of $13m community centre begins

CONSTRUCTION is under way on the Armstrong Creek West Community Hub, which is expected to open early next year.

Located on the corner of Unity and Sovereign Drives in the Villawood estate, the hub will provide a comprehensive range of early childhood and family support services.

The City of Greater Geelong appointed Perkins Architects in 2019 to design the hub, which will have a 5 Star Green Star rating for the building’s design and construction.

Fairbrother Pty Ltd successfully tendered for the $13 million contract last year, and works are well under way at the site.

Funding for the hub comprises $10.706 million from the city and $2.25 million from the Victorian Government, and Geelong deputy mayor Trent Sullivan and South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman inspected the progress so far during a visit to the site on Tuesday this week.

“Mount Duneed is a fantastic growing community, and I certainly know, having spent a fair bit of time getting around and talking to the community, there are a lot of people in this community in their 20s and 30s who have made the decision to make Mt Duneed their home, and this wonderful project will help support this growing community,” Mr Cheeseman said.

He said the hub was ideally located next door to Mirripoa Primary School.

“The kinder facility being co-located and next to basically a brand new primary school, I think, will make it very, very easy for mums and dads of Mount Duneed to stop here.”

Cr Sullivan said it was exciting to see “progress being made right here right now” on the hub.

“When you stop at this time of day, you hear the sound of the children around this area, and it all ties into how much this area is growing.

“Armstrong Creek presently has 20,000 residents, and we’re predicting between 55,000 and 65,000.

“To be working together with the state government on this shows that this is a successful partnership, that things are really being done when we work together, and we’re very proud of that as well.”

The hub will include:

• A kindergarten for 66 children
• A three-year-old kinder that doubles as a multi-purpose room for playgroups and community programs
• Outdoor playground area
• Maternal Child Health consulting rooms
• Family support consulting room and parents lounge
• Flexible community spaces, and
• Accessible toilets, and large storeroom and kitchenette.

Other facilities at the hub include playground areas, verandas for all-weather use, a large central foyer, parent lounge, public toilets and off-street carparking.