Batesford Reserve Youth and Community Hub

15 February 2010

Media Release - Community Celebrates Start of Construction for Batesford Reserve Hub

17 December 2009

Welcome to the third COMMUNITY UPDATE for the Batesford Reserve Youth and Community Hub Project. This project is a partnership between the Australian Government, the Victorian State Government, Monash City Council, Neighbourhood Renewal, Neighbourhood Houses and community groups and agencies.

Hub Builder Announced

The Batesford Reserve Youth and Community Hub project has reached another important milestone. Monash City Council, at its meeting on December 8, 2009, awarded the tender to build the new $5.6 million Hub to HMC Construction.

"The new Hub is high on the priority list for Council and we're very excited to announce that we have awarded the tender to HMC Construction," said Mayor, Cr Charlotte Baines. "HMC has just completed construction on the stunning new Electra Community Centre in Ashwood and the result is even better than we'd hoped, so we're looking forward to seeing the final product at Batesford."

About The Hub Project

The new Hub will house facilities for Monashlink Community Health Service, Monash Youth and Family Services (MYFS), University of the Third Age (U3A), Power Neighbourhood House, Amaroo Neighbourhood House, Ashwood Ashburton Chadstone Tenants Group and Gateway Local Learning and Employment Network (VCAL).

It will also feature multi-purpose meeting and activity rooms, common kitchenettes and storage space, as well as accessible toilets and amenities.

Construction of the Batesford Reserve Youth and Community Hub is expected to begin in early 2010.

Community CafÉ – Potential for the Future

Monash City Council, at its meeting on December 8, also agreed to further explore the concept of establishing a community café at the Jordanville Community Centre (JCC) – right next door to the new Hub and the existing Waverley Basketball Stadium! This could be achieved by upgrading the JCC kitchen to a commercial kitchen at a cost of about $175,000.

More information about this will be available in the next few months.

Funding

The Hub project has received $4,020,000 in funding from the Australian Government through the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program, as part of the Nation Building - Economic Stimulus Plan, $1,300,000 from the Department of Health, $130,000 from the Department of Planning and Community Development and $150,000 through the Neighbourhood Renewal Infrastructure Fund.

More Information

For further information about the Hub project contact Fee Harrison, at Monash City Council on 9518 3526.

Sensory Walk – Connecting Communities

In addition to the new Hub facilities, local residents and visitors to the area will soon be able to enjoy a new "Sensory Walk" linking Amaroo Neighbourhood House to Batesford Reserve.

This exciting project involves building a shared pedestrian and bicycle path along the eastern boundary of Batesford Reserve.

The path will be a unique "Sensory Walk" comprising plant species with bird-attracting, ornamental, fragrant, edible and other sensory characteristics.

The Sensory Walk project is jointly funded by Neighbourhood Renewal and Monash City Council.

It is expected the path construction will commence in February 2010 with planting scheduled for April-June.

For more information about this project contact Patrick Mallon, Senior Urban Designer at Monash City Council on 9518 3426 or email PatrickM@monash.vic.gov.au

• Batesford Hub Builder Announced - 9 December 2009
• Answering Some of Your Questions from the Information Sessions - 11 September 2009

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Updated: 15 February 2010

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