The City of Whittlesea has secured more than $2.4 million in Victorian Government funding to help build vital community infrastructure, including a new respite facility in Mernda.
The Growing Suburbs Fund contribution will assist the City of Whittlesea to deliver five key projects that focus on creating liveable and sustainable neighbourhoods. The projects include:
- A new social support respite facility in Mernda for older residents
- An outdoor learning area at Mill Park Library
- Safety and streetscape improvements at the Rochdale Square shopping precinct in Lalor
- A program to improve energy efficiency in the City of Whittlesea
- A new playground and landscaping at Carrington Boulevard Children’s Centre in Thomastown.
Chair, Panel of Administrators, Lydia Wilson welcomed the funding boost, which supports growing councils to provide essential infrastructure and facilities that communities need.
“As one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Victoria with a booming population, the funding is a welcome addition to our plans to ensure residents can access services and facilities that will make a real difference in their day-to-day lives,” Ms Wilson said.
“These Council projects will support local jobs and provide opportunities for residents to learn and engage with their community.”
The social support facility, which will be built at Mernda Villages Community Activity Centre, will provide much-needed day respite for older residents. Located next to the kindergarten, the facility will offer opportunities for intergenerational programs and activities, as well as helping older residents maintain their independence.
The service aims to reduce social isolation by providing people that are frail, living with disability, memory loss (dementia), have limited mobility, and are 65 years and over, the opportunity to try new activities, establish links in the community, and improve their overall health and wellbeing.
“We recognised a genuine need for social support services in the City’s north, where frail residents are often travelling over an hour to access programs in Lalor, Mill Park and Epping,” Ms Wilson said.
“The new facility in Mernda will mean that more older residents participate in and seek social support, which is a terrific outcome in our effort to combat negative health impacts for older residents and their carers.”
Construction on the five key projects will start in 2021.
