By Jena Carr
The Deans Marsh Community Hub reached an important redevelopment milestone after the Surf Coast Shire Council released the Draft Facility Development Plan for public feedback.
The plan aims to build a hub that reflects the current and future needs of the Deans Marsh community and maintains the characteristics and significance of the existing Memorial Reserve site.
Councillor Libby Stapleton said the hub’s chosen design would provide a new multi-purpose space that recognised the rural and historical location.
“I appreciate the heritage of this building is significant and believe that heritage is more than just physical elements,” she said.
“It’s also about the memories and social significance, and I hope they will live on in a redevelopment that meets community needs over the coming decades.”
Cr Stapleton said the plan had developed over time with community input from surveys, listening posts, meetings, and online submissions.
“The result is a plan for a facility that is going to serve the community in numerous ways, including enabling additional services and activities with the multi-purpose spaces,” she said.
“We recognise that even though the current facility is approaching the end of its useful life, it is still required by the community in the meantime, so Council will ensure it remains safe to use.”
Councillor Rose Hodge said she was glad that all the plans were starting to come together and looked forward to hearing what the community had to say about the redevelopment.
“There is no doubt going to be a lot of discussion… and I’m looking forward to this going out to the public and coming back to see what happens in the future,” she said.
The community can have their say on the Draft Deans Marsh Community Hub Facility Development plan from June 5 to July 3 at surfcoast.vic.gov.au/DMhub.
