Libs pledge $2m Indian centre

LIBERAL candidate for South Barwon Andrew Katos has promised $2 million for a Geelong Indian community hub if his party wins next month’s state election.

An elected Liberal-Nationals Government would build a South Barwon Indian Community Centre to provide a home base for community organisations’ activities and cultural celebrations.

Indian community leaders have indicated their preference for the site to be near the Armstrong Creek growth area where its population is strongest, with Mount Duneed Recreation Reserve touted as a potential site.

While the location is yet to be determined, the Liberal commitment would ensure the hub is in the South Barwon electorate, south of the Barwon River.

Mr Katos said the funding would provide:

• a hub and meeting place for the Indian community of Geelong and broader community groups
• a cultural multi-purpose facility
• a function space
• a full commercial kitchen for community events and to expand food relief efforts
• a garden to grow vegetables to help feed vulnerable people, and
• a sporting facility that can be used year-round.

Geelong’s growing Indian community currently use other groups’ facilities for events such as religious ceremonies, which are not always available.

Groups such as Indian Association of Geelong have also had to improvise for food relief efforts, including using a makeshift Deakin University distribution centre to send out 20,000 food boxes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Volunteer Indian groups still provide around 500 meals a week in the Geelong community.

Mr Katos drew parallels between Geelong’s growing Indian cohort and his own family’s emigration from Greece in the 1950s to highlight the importance of a dedicated community space.

“It is important to integrate into Australian society as my parents did and at the same time to never forget one’s culture, religion, and language. This is how multiculturalism works best,” he said.

“This commitment from the Liberals will provide an important asset for the entire community and also assist in maintaining the culture and heritage of the Indian community.”

Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs Craig Ondarchie said the Liberal commitment would ensure the region’s Indian community “have the resources to share and celebrate their culture and positive contributions”.

The Labor Government allocated $200,000 in this year’s state budget for a feasibility study into a similar hub, though indicated in May that the most likely destination was at Lovely Banks near the existing Gurudwara Sikh Temple.