Croydon Community Precinct: Maroondah Council reveals second draft of masterplan
Numerous Croydon community groups who feared for their futures will be relocated under a revised plan for the suburb’s new-look community precinct. But the council wants groups to share space, and some of the pairings could surprise you.
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Numerous Croydon community groups are still set to lose their homes and be mashed in with other services in Maroondah Council’s latest blueprint for the suburb’s future.
The council has released a second draft of its planned overhaul — renamed the Croydon Community Wellbeing Precinct — following public consultation which ended in January.
Under the original plan, the council planned to create three ‘hubs’ around the precinct to replace more than 10 ageing buildings.
The council is still yet to say exactly how many buildings it wants to demolish.
Under the new plan, the council has expanded the first hub and consolidated wellbeing, family and children’s services and a new Croydon Library.
It will retain the heritage-listed front facade of EVs youth centre and its maternal health centre and incorporate them into the hub’s design.
The second hub has been moved further south near the AquaHub pool, with the council’s old service centre to be redeveloped for community groups and “partnership opportunities”.
The third hub will replace Keystone Hall and will be next to a relocated Croydon Bowls Club.
In the council’s promotional video for the revised masterplan, project co-ordinator John Richardson said the third hub would have space for the bowls club, Croydon RSL sub-branch and other sporting groups.
Sub-branch president John Hexter previously said it should have its own building.
But Mr Hexter said he was comfortable with the immediate plans, which he said involved the sub-branch moving to a creche next door which would be repurposed.
He said the third hub’s construction could be “up to 10 years away” and was confident it would meet its needs.
“We just have to wait and see what happens, but at this stage we’re happy, and for the next five years we’re independent on our own,” Mr Hexter said.
“They (council) are looking after us, and there’s still a lot of time to go and adjustments to make.”
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Mayor Mike Symon said the precinct would have “sufficient space to accommodate all existing groups” and the council had held talks with group leaders about accommodation during and after the project’s completion.
Cr Symon also said the council would cut costs by not demolishing its old service centre and turning it into the second hub.
“By retaining the existing building we will be able to provide an increased overall floor area for community groups to utilise at a reduced overall project cost,” he said.
Other additions include an amphitheatre for live performances, a basketball half-court, a revitalised duck pond and an extra 4000sq of open space.
Mr Richardson also said the council would not sell land for a proposed mixed-use development in the precinct opposite Arndale Shopping Centre.
Residents can have their say on the revised masterplan by July 8 at the council’s Your Say Maroondah website.