A NEW kitchen will rise from the ashes of a fire at Patterson Lakes Community Centre after councillors agreed to fund a commercial-grade kitchen at a cost of about $40,000 including appliances.
South ward councillor Tamsin Bearsley raised the proposal for the community centre to be supported during repair works.
“I think it’s an opportune time to bring the kitchen up to a commercial standard so it can be hired out to community groups,” she said.
Cr Bearsley said the volunteer group at the centre has been “put under an awful lot of stress” due to a loss of income of about $35,000 while the centre has been closed to activities.
Council will also contribute a maximum of $7500 of ratepayers’ money to pitch in half of the cost of new spring flooring needed in the hall at the community centre.
Councillors unanimously agreed to support the centre in rebuilding a children’s playground at the centre.
Cr Georgina Oxley had wanted to postpone buying the kitchen appliances for about $20,000 as part of the $40,000 kitchen fit-out.
“A kitchen without appliances isn’t really a useable kitchen,” Cr Bearsley said.
The Patterson Lakes Library and Community Centre was reopened early last month after fire damage forced its closure for a couple of weeks in March.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 31 May 2017
