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Cash call for pool centre The Altona Meadows Community Association has joined the push for the state and federal governments to help fund a $60m proposed aquatic and early years centre for Altona Meadows. Hobsons Bay council has pledged $20m to the Western Aquatic and Early Years Centre [WAEYC] project, which is contingent on further funding from the state and federal governments. Community association president Jodi Martin said population in the western end of Hobsons Bay was “exploding”. “Residents are looking into the future asking for services that meet the future needs of our growing population and this includes a modern aquatic centre. “Building this type of facility takes a number of years, so we need state and federal government commitment to make it happen so it can be there when it’s needed.” Hobsons Bay council’s letter of support for the WAEYC has received more than 700 signatures. Details: participate.hobsonsbay.vic. gov.au/waeyc or westernaquaticcentre. good.do/floatourpool/supporter-letter
Altona Meadows’ Amy and Oscar Terceiro are among the voices calling for the state and federal governments to commit funding for the Western Aquatic and Early Years Centre. (Joe Mastroianni) 299297_05
Japan trip costs queried By Matthew Sims Ratepayers Victoria has questioned the benefit of Hobsons Bay council’s plans to travel to one of the council’s sister cities in Japan next year. At its meeting on Tuesday, September 13, council passed a motion to note the context of the three friendship alliances with Anjo in Japan, Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council in Far North Queensland and Buloke Shire Council in rural Victoria, as well as reaffirming the value of these alliances, noting the timing for upcoming visits and reconnections to these areas and seeking to provide a report on the achievements of the program over the past 10 years.
Hobsons Bay councillor Pamela Sutton-Legaud supported the motion. “Anything that extends our relationships with the broader diversity of communities is a good thing,” she said. “I hope that we’ll continue to have these visits and that we get absolutely the most out of them that we can.” The Hobsons Bay International Friendship Association [HBIFA] has planned for a Hobsons Bay community delegation to visit Anjo next April, with a delegation from Anjo then set to travel to Melbourne next October. However, Cr Daria Kellander opposed the motion due to her concerns about the cost impacts on ratepayers.
“We’re not federal MPs who need to travel internationally,” she said. “Right now, we’ve got high inflation, rates have recently gone up, petrol’s about to go up another 20 cents a litre...families are tightening their budgets and cutting out non-essentials, yet here we are proposing an interstate and international trip.” Councillors Daria Kellander and Diana Grima voted against the motion. Ratepayers Victoria vice-president Dean Hurlston said ratepayers deserved to know what the cost of the trips would be. “Hobsons Bay isn’t being transparent at all, refusing to disclose the thousands of dollars it’s spending on these junkets,” he said.
“There is no justification of this outrageous spending.” “Why is council hiding the full cost?” Hobsons Bay mayor Peter Hemphill said Mr Hurlston’s comments were “offensive”. “I find all these comments to be very anti-Japanese and anti-Aboriginal,” he said. “We should be making every effort to build bridges with First Nations people, not make them more difficult. “Hobsons Bay City Council’s cultural ties with Yarrabah Council, Anjo City and Buloke Council have been longstanding and beneficial.” Cr Hemphill said the council had not incurred any costs on any trips.
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