By Jaidyn Kennedy
The fight to save Kelly Park Centre is ramping up, with a former councillor among those to lodge a formal objection to Wyndham council’s decision to demolish the facility.
Kelly Park Hall was damaged by fire in June 2022 and council initially decided to demolish the hall in December 2023, making the decision public in April 2024.
But in August 2024, amid community backlash, councillors decided to defer the demolition and asked council to investigate redeveloping the hall and to report back to councillors by February 2025.
A report to the December council meeting noted that council officers were working on a business case for the redevelopment but would be unable to report back to councillors before April 2025.
The report outlined three potential options for the rebuilding the facility. They were like for like refurbishment that would cost an estimated $3 million – $ 4 million; demolishing the existing facility and rebuilding a 820sqm facility more in line with modern specifications for approximately $8.5M; or demolishing the existing facility and replace it with a three-story community hub equipped with a library that would cost an estimated $26M.
In response to the report, Cr Josh Gilligan moved that council proceed with the plan to demolish the hall in favour of replacing it with an open space, citing the cost of rebuilding as a prohibitive factor.
“Where’s the money coming from to pay for this? This is not Disney or Wonderland,” he said.
“We have the opportunity to do great things in this city, but it must be informed by the dollars and the evidence.”
Crs Mia Shaw, Preet Singh, Shannon Maguire and Maria King supported Cr Gilligan’s proposal while Crs Peter Maynard, Robert Szatkowski, Susan McIntyre, Jasmine Hill and Larry Zhao voted against it, resulting in a five-five tie.
Cr Shaw, of whose ward Kelly Park is in, used her mayoral powers to cast the decisive vote.
Dozens of objectors gathered at the hall the next day to protest the council’s decision.
Among those objecting to the hall’s demolition is former councillor Heather Marcus, who said council would be doing “a serious disservice to the Werribee community” if it knocked down the hall.
Ms Marcus has launched a petition calling for the hall to be saved.
“Kelly Park Hall stands as a testament to the spirit of Werribee’s residents, who came together to plan, fund, and construct the facility,” she said.
“It represents a unique piece of local history, and demolishing it would erase this significant legacy.
“It’s so different from the new community centres we’re building today.
“[The newer community centres] don’t have a stage where you can do productions and little art shows.
“There’s so much more you can do in that type of hall than you can do in a community centre.”
Ms Marcus said the hall was used by a variety of community groups prior to the fire.
“Werribee lacks other facilities that provide the same accessibility, affordability, and central location as Kelly Park,” she said.
“Its removal would create a significant gap in resources for the community, with no immediate replacement in sight.”
A spokesperson said council was working closely with all community groups that previously used the facility and was trying to find alternative locations for them.
“Prior to the fire, there were 23 groups who were regular users. Council worked to find alternate locations, and all groups were accommodated in other Council facilities,“ the spokesperson said.
“Of the 23 groups, three have indicated a desire to return to Kelly Park Centre. The three groups have been rehomed and receive a Community Facility Subsidy which covers the cost of their room hire in council-owned buildings.”
Ms Marcus said the online and paper petitions to restore Kelly Park have reached over 1470 signatures.
