Labor to build state-of-the art youth music hub in Croydon if it wins federal election

Labor will spend $1 million turning a Croydon youth centre into a state-of-the-art hub for young and emerging artists if it wins the federal election.

Labor’s Shireen Morris with musicians in Croydon. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Maroondah’s spiritual home of all-ages gigs will be transformed into a state-of-the-art music hub if Labor wins the May 18 federal election.

Croydon’s EVs Youth Centre will get a $1 million makeover as part of the opposition’s $28 million Soundtrack Australia policy.

It will offer a professional recording studio and rehearsal spaces especially for young and emerging artists, fitted out with instruments and the latest recording equipment.

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The hub will also provide access to songwriters and producers for development and mentoring opportunities.

It is one of only two to be built in Melbourne, and seven in Australia, with the second Melbourne hub in Footscray which Labor has committed $500,000 for.

Labor’s Deakin candidate Shireen Morris, a former singer and actor, said she was incredibly excited to secure the facility if she triumphs on May 18.

“It’s amazing to be able to help young people when they’re trying to learn and practice their instruments and kick off a music career and hopefully become a future Australian pop icon,” she said.

Labor’s arts spokesman Tony Burke said the proposed hub would be “a community asset that is extraoadinary”.

“It means a young person and a mid-career artist can come here and money won’t be a barrier,” he said.

Shireen Morris and Tony Burke, pictured centre, have announced a revamp of Croydon’s EV’s Youth Centre.

“This will be the magnet and the facilities that draw people here to write that next generation of Australian music.

“We’ve got candidates running all over the country but few who understand this the way Shireen does … she has elbowed your local area to the top of the queue.”

Labor has also committed $2 million to Maroondah Council’s plans for the Croydon Community Precinct, which the music hub will be located in.

Deakin federal Liberal MP Michael Sukkar, who committed $2 million for the precinct earlier this year, said he would not match the funding for the music hub.

Mr Sukkar said the government was already investing $17 million in Croydon including $15 million for its new 487-space multi-deck carpark, announced in February.

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