Service facilities go ahead

THE Shire of Yarra Ranges last week formalised its plan to establish two new community service facilities in Upwey and Kilsyth in the next five years.
At last Tuesday night’s (27 November) meeting, the council adopted its Community Hubs Policy, setting out how the shire would respond to the changing demand for community facilities.
The policy, which was developed through community consultation last year, includes the results of a needs analysis undertaken to identify the services required at a new Family and Children’s Centre in Upwey.
While the council included funding for this facility in its 10-year Capital Expenditure Program released earlier this year, construction is not expected to begin until the 2009-10 financial year.
The Community Hubs Policy identifies Mast Gully Road as a probable site for the Family and Children’s Centre.
According to the policy, the facility is likely to include a two-suite maternal and child heath centre, a 50-place preschool and a 90-place long-day childcare centre.
The Kilsyth facility is proposed to be a broad-based community hub including a community hall and multi-purpose function rooms.
Community consultation and planning for both facilities is continuing with funding support from state and federal governments still to be secured.