Seven unstaffed community facilities across Hume have been identified as having the lowest level of usage as council’s audit into community centres has been released.
Seabrook Reserve Community Centre in Broadmeadows was found to have the lowest level of bookings and usage at 5.9 per cent, with Evans Street Environmental Centre in Sunbury following closely behind at 9.8 per cent.
Seabrook Reserve Community Centre opened in 2024.
Jack McKenzie Community Hall in Bulla only had 10.3 per cent usage, Dallas Tennis Hall and Campbellfield Community Centre both had just over 12 per cent, Goonawarra Community Centre in Sunbury had 16.43 per cent and Roxburgh Park Recreation Centre had 16.88 per cent.
The audit follows after Cr Sam Misho’s notice of motion from 11 August, 2025, which called for the report, with the findings released to the public at the 23 February council meeting.
Cr Misho said the findings weren’t a shock to him.
“The report talks about 30 community facilities, halls, libraries and other facilities, seven of which at worst they’ve been used for less than six per cent and at best they’ve been used for less than 17 per cent,” he said.
“It leaves these multi-million dollar facilities unused by our community and that is a serious concern for me.”
At the 23 February council meeting, Cr Misho forwarded the recommendation council consider including $90,000 in the 2026-27 budget to undertake the community facilities feasibility study and pilot activation, with a report received once the study is included.
Cr Misho’s amendment included fast-tracking the delivery of the pilot program, ensuring its well promoted prior to commencement, and delivering it for a maximum period of three months, followed by a rapid assessment of the results.
“I think as a council we should strongly move away from focusing on ribbon cutting by spending millions and millions of dollars on community centres when we already have community centres that we need to continue renovating and bring them back to life,” Cr Misho said.
The feasibility study, if endorsed during the budget, would focus on the seven identified facilities, and seek to identify appropriate free, supervised gathering opportunities, according to the officers’ report.
Under completion of the study, the officers’ report said it would be anticipated that two sites would be identified and recommended to progress to a pilot, with $50,000 identified to activate two underutilised facilities.
Cr Naim Kurt asked officers to clarify if the fast-tracked program could be completed by September, however officers said they were unable to provide that during the meeting.
