Cade Lucas
Point Cook could soon have a new container deposit centre following a decision by Wyndham council on Tuesday night.
A motion to lease a council owned property in Wallace Avenue Point Cook to not-for-profit organisation, Chance Creators, received unanimous support at a council meeting on August 22.
Chance Creators, who operate the social enterprises Fruit2Work and Recycle4Change, have been appointed as the Wyndham network operator for the state government’s Container Deposit Scheme which begins on November 1.
Both Fruit2Work and Recycle4Change employ ex-prisoners, something Wyndham deputy mayor, Jennie Barrera, said made the proposal ‘a really promising opportunity.’
“This has the potential to have really far-reaching environmental and social justice benefits for this city,” Cr Barrera said in moving the motion.
Under the proposal, a council-run animal adoption centre currently operating next door would be extended to take in the northern part of the property, but excluded from the lease.
Wyndham council purchased the 3000 square-metre property in February last year and has since based its animal management unit and pound there while leasing the rest of the property children’s entertainment provider, Hijinks Play Centre.
Financial troubles recently forced Hijinks to terminate its lease and it’s the area they have vacated that the Recycle4Change facility would occupy.
While calling it a ‘sound proposal’ councillor Sahana Ramesh questioned how this arrangement would work.
“I have a couple of concerns, mainly about having a bulk container depot within the same roof structure and next door to the Wyndham pound and how the two could co-exist,” said Cr Ramesh who added that a report into the arrangement was currently underway.
The proposal is now subject to community engagement, with a public notice posted on the council website for the next 28 days.
If approved, the container deposit centre is expected to be operational by the end of the year.
Chance Creators declined to comment.
