By Alesha Capone
A bid to name a new Tarneit community centre after a long-serving Wyndham councillor has been knocked back.
At last Tuesday’s council meeting, Cr Josh Gilligan asked his colleagues to consider naming a new $9.5 million community centre in Congo Drive after former Wyndham City and Werribee Shire councillor John Gibbons, who served the municipality from 1983 until last year.
A report to the meeting said representatives of the Werribee District Historical Society, KU Children’s Services (which will provide early education and care at the centre) and council staff had identified potential names for the new community centre, to be released for community consultation.
Councillors supported seeking feedback on naming the centre the Chaffey Channel Community Centre, which refers to a historic irrigation channel that passed through the site, and Dianella Community Centre, which refers to a flora species indigenous to the area.
However, Cr Gilligan urged councillors to select a different name.
“I don’t think the community are very interested in naming a community centre after an irrigation channel, is that the best we’ve got?” Cr Gilligan said.
Cr Heather Marcus said that brothers William and George Chaffey “played a very important role in this city” by developing historic irrigation plans for the area.
“To say they’re not important in the foundations of our city is quite wrong,” she said.
“I feel very upset to think we’re overlooking brilliant treasures of this city by ignoring them and going with other people.”
Although Cr Gilligan’s suggestion was not supported by a majority of councillors, he reintroduced the matter during the urgent business section of the council meeting.
Cr Gilligan also said the council should consult the community about renaming the Tarneit Community Learning Centre after former prime minister and Lalor MP Julia Gillard.
Cr Gilligan also suggested the Central Park Community Centre in Hoppers Crossing could be renamed in honour of Wyndham’s first female mayor Pat Goodwin.
However, a majority of councillors voted that this did not qualify as urgent business and the matter was not publicly discussed at the meeting.
For more information on the naming process for the future Tarneit community centre, visit: www.theloop.wyndham.vic.gov.au/tarneit-west-naming
