Hastings MP Rosie Buchanan, Attorney-General Rob Hulls, Victorian Legal Aid managing director Tony Parsons, legal aids Julie Mouy and Kate Lovett, Cranbourne MP Jude Perera, Vicky Holmes and Victorian Legal Aid CEO Helen Constas at the official opening of the Peninsula Community Legal Centre’s Cranbourne branch.CRANBOURNE’S newest legal centre was officially opened yesterday (Wednesday).
Attorney-General Rob Hulls was in town to open the Cranbourne branch of the Peninsula Community Legal Centre, one of four new State Government-funded facilities across Victoria.
The centre offers legal advice by appointment, telephone and after hours on a range of issues including family law, debt and neighbourhood disputes.
Mr Hulls said Cranbourne was an ideal location for a community legal centre because it was in Victoria’s fastest-growing municipality, the City of Casey.
“The centres are based in areas that have large numbers of vulnerable people, populations in excess of 200,000 and a significant need for more legal services,” he said.
“The City of Casey is Victoria’s largest municipality.
“In real terms Casey’s population is growing by 55 families a week.
“The neighbouring Cardinia Shire also has a rapidly growing population, which is expected to grow by 31,000 to 78,518 by 2010.”
Cranbourne MP Jude Perera welcomed the new centre, which he said had been flat out dealing with calls from desperate residents since it opened late last year.
“Residents have said there is a real need for a contact point for free, qualified, face-to-face advice in Cranbourne,” he said.
“My office receives many inquiries relating to matters such as family law and debt problems.”
The Peninsula Community Legal Centre Cranbourne branch is open from 9am to 5pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday at suite 12, 33-39 High Street, Cranbourne.
Phone 5995 3722.
