By Brendan Rees
A Cranbourne North learning centre which helps provide pathways for people to pursue their career dreams could be on its way to receiving a much-needed portable space.
Casey councillors voted to consider the inclusion of one portable building in the 2018/19 Budget to provide additional community space at the Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre (MPLCC) during their council meeting on 3 April.
City of Casey Deputy Mayor Amanda Stapledon said classrooms were at the point of overflowing with students at the centre.
“We need to provide a workaround until such time as we can develop a master plan on how to extend/rebuild the centre to accommodate for the extraordinary growth that it is trying to accommodate,” she said.
A decision to either rebuild or extend the centre will be made in the next year, Cr Stapledon said.
Cr Stapledon said MPLCC offered to manage the project which “could prove to save significant costs to the rate payer.”
Two portable buildings were currently in place at the centre for VCAL Students and were delivering significant outcomes for youth who are not fitting into the mainstream education system, she said.
“The programs are leading to reengaging students with their school and leading to employment.
“They are very creative and offer so many varied courses, services and programs that help engage a community,” Cr Stapledon said.
Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre chief executive Jan Gilchrist said the proposed portable community centre would be a welcomed relief.
“Our rooms are over flowing. We don’t have spare rooms basically any day of the week,” she said.
“We running additional classes and we’re just finding we have to juggle to try and fit in what we need to fit in.
“We can’t thank the council enough for the provision of this. We’re certainly at the moment not in a position to be able to fund another one.”
