There were smiles all round at Carranballac P-9 College and the 1st Point Cook Scout Group last week after the state government announced it would fund the lion’s share of a $1.6 million multi-purpose centre.
The government has pledged $1.375 million towards a joint Scout and community centre to be built at Carranballac’s Boardwalk campus through its shared facilities fund. Point Cook Scout Group will put $300,000 towards the project.
Construction of the centre will begin at the end of this year, with the build expected to take about six months.
The hall will be primarily used as a Scouts facility on nights and weekends, as a classroom and activity space during school hours, and for before and after school care. It will be available for hire for community programs, such as yoga classes or meetings.
Education Minister James Merlino, who was taken on a tour of the Boardwalk campus last week, said that while schools were the heart of a local community, their facilities went largely unused out of school hours.
“This is another example of how shared facilities can create local hubs,” he said.
“This is good news for everyone – Scouts, students and the community.”
Kelli Whiffin, who is leader of the cub pack for the 1st Point Cook Scout Group, said it had outgrown its headquarters at the Jamieson Way Community Centre.
She said the new centre would allow the Scout group to run on more nights of the week.
