By Jessica Micallef
The new Dulap Wiliam Hub in Sunbury will receive $30,000 annually over the next three years from Hume council to assist with its operation.
At a meeting last week, councillors voted to allocate the funding to assist with operating costs including staffing, power, water, electricity, cleaning, security and ground and building maintenance.
In 2017, the council partnered with Sunbury Downs College and Sunbury Heights Primary School to build a shared-used community facility on state government-owned land, with the project receiving $7.2 million in government funding.
The hub was completed in August last year but due to COVID-19 restrictions, the centre was unable to open its doors.
The multipurpose facility includes shared community spaces comprising of a dedicated playroom and outdoor space, three meeting rooms, flexible multipurpose space that can be configure to up to four rooms, a community kitchen, toilets and informal meeting spaces.
The shared community space will be managed by Sunbury Heights Primary School, with programs to commence this year.
There is also a two-room preschool which will be managed by council, with services expected to begin this year.
Sunbury Downs College will also manage the teaching kitchens to deliver the school’s home economics program.
Jacksons Creek ward councillor Jarrod Bell was nominated to be part of the newly formed Dulap Wiliam Hub governance committee.
He said the new centre would be a “one-stop-shop” for community facilities and services.
“I call this a unique space,” he said.
“What it will provide … is access almost catered to our environment with preschool and kinder facilities being provided within the centre itself.
“The fact that there is going to be three very core different zones within the facility is absolutely exciting.
“The commercial style kitchen space … will provide state-of-the-art hospitality training opportunities.”
