Community Centre Needed

GAINING SOME TRACTION ON COMMUNITY NEEDS

Since our inception as a local community group Friends of Eaglemont Village (FofEV) has agitated for the provision of community facilities accessible to the Eaglemont community.

Here - in Eaglemont, where we live, where we socialise, where we used to shop before our greengrocer, our chemist, our supermarket and our butcher were lost.

More foot traffic in and about the Village will help its viability.

Attracting drivers to come to Eaglemont for community centre provided services will help too.

People from elsewhere can use the train so easily to come to Eaglemont too.

We need a community centre for our community. Here, where we can walk, ride, scoot or roll our wheelchair to recreation, to services, to cultural activities, to community gatherings.

Where we do not need to drive a private car just to get out of our hemmed in dormitory suburb to access basic services.

FofEV has constantly argued that the Eaglemont community is being short-changed by our lack of a community house or hall that could be home base for services such as:

• aged care and senior citizens

• maternal health

• young parents groups

• youth services

• arts and cultural activities

• community development and community welfare

• public health vaccination clinics

• social inclusion events

• community gardening

• kids' holiday activities

• community meetings

• toy libraries or exchanges

• backgammon, canasta, mah jong, chess sessions

• food swaps

• information provision

• intergenerational skills transfers

• yoga, tai chi, active elders

We are not asking for anything novel or exotic - such neighbourhood or community houses and halls, with public toilets, with parking, with green space - are spread right across the middle and northern parts of Banyule.  But not here. Yet.

We are asking for some of our high Council rates to be spent here.

Our local hilly terrain, coupled with Banyule's oldest age profile, and taking into account the distance to (and from) other service providers, means we need local facilities.

Within walking distance for young parents - or grandparents - with a pram. Within walking distance for those with canes, crutches or frames.

Vehicle traffic and parking issues blight Ivanhoe and Heidelberg already - and are going to get worse as the Banyule Council supports highrises and multiple occupancies in those locations.

What can you do?

Make this need for an Eaglemont community facility a topic of conversation in the cafes, at the bowling club, at your book club, in the street as you talk to associates.