By LIA SPENCER AND CASEY NEILL
A GREATER Dandenong councillor has stood by his comments calling for the State Government not to fund the City of Casey’s $125 million proposed Cultural and Civic Precinct.
Greater Dandenong councillor Matthew Kirwin said he would be happy to accept a personal invitation to meet Casey councillor Rafal Kaplon to discuss recent comments which he made about the proposal.
Cr Kirwan asked his colleagues that a letter be written to the State Government asking them not to help fund Casey’s plans because he thought it was a threat to Greater Dandenong’s Drum Theatre and municipal building plans.
Casey Council plans for the precinct, which was announced on 5 June, to feature a regional theatre with 800 seats, multi-purpose exhibition space, regional art gallery, new community library, community meeting rooms, civic centre and community plaza.
The proposal is similar to City of Greater Dandenong’s new municipal building plans which will feature a new library, café, civic offices, retail space, community rooms and a civic square which is hoped to become a “Federation Square” of Melbourne’s south-east.
At Tuesday night’s Casey Council meeting, Cr Kaplon said Cr Kirwin’s comments were unfair.
“I was extremely surprised to learn of the views expressed by the endorsed Greens councillor since his party claims to stand for equality and fairness and considering Greater Dandenong has received $290 million from the State Government to revitalise central Dandenong, I consider Cr Kirwin’s bold comments to be unfair and not based on any substantial facts,” Cr Kaplon said.
He said he would extend a personal invitation to Cr Kirwin to visit Casey and discuss his concerns so that he may be assured that the facilities Casey was building were necessary due to the population growth.
Cr Kaplon said the Cultural and Civic Precinct would provide necessary facilities for schools, residents and enrich the entire region, including Dandenong.
Cr Kirwin said he would be happy to accept a personal invitation and stood by his comments.
“For the Revitalising Central Dandenong project to fully achieve its aims, and for the sake of best good urban planning, Dandenong needs to be the major activity centre of the south-east,” Cr Kirwin said.
“Thus, any major infrastructure projects that are regional in nature, such as a regional art gallery or a regional performing arts centre, need to be in Dandenong.
“It is Dandenong that has the best transport links – not just the Monash Freeway but Eastlink – and also a public transport hub as well.
“It is easier for many people in Casey to get to Dandenong via public transport than it is to get to Fountain Gate.”
