‘Hub’ cashed up

By Dion Teasdale
CONSTRUCTION of a new $400,000 multipurpose community centre in Millgrove will begin by the end of the year.
The centre, to be built at Millwarra Primary School’s Millgrove Campus, will be jointly funded by the State Government and the River Valley Church.
It will include an auditorium, sporting facilities, conference and meeting rooms, offices, community education facilities, a stage, a foyer and a kitchen.
It is hoped that, once completed, the centre will become a hub for sport, worship, entertainment, cultural and other community activities in Millgrove.
Minister for Education Services Jacinta Allan and Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato announced last week that the State Government would contribute $200,000 to the project.
“This facility will provide the people of Millgrove with a multipurpose community centre, and is part of the Bracks Government’s vision towards building and growing our schools and school communities,” she said.
Ms Allan said the State Government would invest a total of $200,000 through the $30 million Community Facilities Fund, which allows schools to build or modernise facilities that can also be accessed by the broader community.
“These joint projects between schools and community organisations are opening the school gates even wider to the community,” Ms Allan said.
Ms Lobato said the River Valley Church would contribute the other $200,000 to the project.
“This funding is great news for local families in Millgrove, who will benefit from a centre that the whole community can use,” she said.
“The community centre will bring Millwarra Primary School, River Valley Church and the wider community together.”
Ms Allan congratulated the people of Millgrove that have worked to get funding for the new facility.
“This exciting project wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and support of the local community and the River Valley Church,” she said.
River Valley Church pastor Andy Bennett said he was ‘delighted’ the State Government had agreed to help fund the project.
“Today’s announcement is about partnership. It is amazing what can happen when people work together,” he said.
“By working together we can make Millgrove the safest and happiest place for people to grow and play and learn.”
Mr Bennett said about $70,000 of the $200,000 being contributed to the project by the River Valley Church was raised through donations from the Upper Yarra community.
“This centre will be an important part of the positive transformation taking place in the Millgrove community,” he said.
Millwarra Primary School, Millgrove campus, principal Rob Clark said he was ‘pleased’ by the funding announcement.
“This is a big day indeed for Millwarra Primary School. We are going to get a beautiful new community centre right here. This is great for Millgrove and great for the people of the Upper Yarra,” he said.