Nine-month reprieve for Macedon maternal and child health centre

THE Macedon community is again trying to save a beloved asset, with a nine-month lifeline given to find a new use for its former maternal and child health centre.

Chris Humfrey and other parents fought to save Macedon's Bruce St kindergarten in 2011.

THE Macedon community is again trying to save a beloved asset, with a nine-month lifeline given to find a new use for its former maternal and child health centre.

The weatherboard property at 47 Victoria St, which survived Ash Wednesday, has not been used since an occasional playgroup program wound up in December 2016.

Last week’s Macedon Ranges Council meeting was set to ratify the sale of the building, which has been in community hands since its construction in 1949.

But South Ward councillor Mandi Mees was successful in pushing for a nine-month expression of interest period allowing for the potential retention of the site.

Macedon resident Karen Clifford, who was part of the active Macedon Community Hub Working Group in 2011, said it was “gut-wrenching” the community again had to fight to save an asset.

In 2011, the working group collected more than 1000 signatures in a campaign to save the Bruce St kindergarten in Macedon, which was earmarked for closure and would have seen children’s services relocated to Victoria St.

While saving Bruce St was achieved, a community plan to establish a neighbourhood house, allied health centre and youth centre via $680,000 in council funds at Victoria St was thwarted by a casting vote of then mayor Cr Henry McLaughlin.

“We had a good proposal then and there will be a strong steering group come forward again which I and others from back then will assist,” Ms Clifford said.

Macedon resident Samara Hodson said she felt with the influx of talented professionals relocating to Macedon, there were strong prospects of sound community plans emerging for Victoria St.

Only one councillor, West Ward’s Henry Bleeck, supported the sale at last Wednesday’s meeting.

A community meeting will be held in the Macedon Railway Hotel (backroom) on Wednesday, June 6 from 7.30pm. Details: [e-mail]