A new multipurpose community facility, located at Cannibal Creek Reserve, Garfield North, will be constructed for existing user groups as well the local community.

Following the Bunyip Complex Fires in March 2019, community members impacted by the fires advocated strongly for a new community centre in Garfield North to help them in their recovery. They needed a place for new and existing community groups to meet, for events to be held in, and to foster social connections.

Council recognised this need and responded by applying for funding to help build the centre with the support of user groups.

We’re pleased to confirm that the grant application was successful – the Victorian Government has committed $1.3 million from its Growing Suburbs Fund to help build the community centre. Council is putting a further $1 million towards the project.

Impacts of disasters on affected individuals and communities can be profound, long-lasting and life changing. The Garfield North Community Centre project is one part of a long-term, multilayered social support and community development process to support the recovery of individuals and the community in townships including Garfield North, Tonimbuk, Bunyip North and Tynong North.

Project description

The development of a new Community Centre in Garfield North to accommodate approximately 100 people has commenced. This modular building will include a social room, a meeting room, a storage area, a kitchen, an accessible toilet, and unisex toilets.

The concept design has been signed off by the Committee of Management and the Planning Permit has been approved. Additionally, landowner approval has been obtained from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). Factory manufacturing has started off site by the successful tenderer.

Council Officers will continue to work with the Committee of Management and DEECA regarding the detailed design and onsite construction in the coming months.

Funding

The project is funded by the Victorian Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund.

Progress update

Council awarded the design and construction contract at the August Council meeting 2024.

The commencement of works was acknowledged with a sod turn event in March 2025.

The project is expected to be completed by Mid 2025.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the round one consultation and provided us with their feedback in 2022.

In round one of our engagement, we sought your feedback on how you and your community would benefit from and like to use a community facility in Cannibal Creek Reserve, Garfield North as well as receive feedback on the concept design.

Through this consultation, you told us you would like:

Suggestions for future use were:

Please click on the yellow "Follow" button to keep up to date with this project.

Following the Bunyip Complex Fires in March 2019, community members impacted by the fires advocated strongly for a new community centre in Garfield North to help them in their recovery. They needed a place for new and existing community groups to meet, for events to be held in, and to foster social connections.

Council recognised this need and responded by applying for funding to help build the centre with the support of user groups.

We’re pleased to confirm that the grant application was successful – the Victorian Government has committed $1.3 million from its Growing Suburbs Fund to help build the community centre. Council is putting a further $1 million towards the project.

The new multipurpose community facility, located at Cannibal Creek Reserve, Garfield North, will be available for existing user groups as well the local community.

As part of Council’s successful grant submission, concept plans for the community centre were prepared. We'd like to hear your views about the concept plans before 30 June 2022.

Impacts of disasters on affected individuals and communities can be profound, long-lasting and life changing. The Garfield North Community Centre project is one part of a long-term, multilayered social support and community development process to support the recovery of individuals and the community in townships including Garfield North, Tonimbuk, Bunyip North and Tynong North.

Community centre features

Here is the proposed floor plan (concept). For more detail about the site location and building elevations or to zoom in on the plans please open the Concept Plan_Floor & Elevations pdf from the Document Library on the right.

FAQs:

We will update this FAQ section with answers to questions posted on the 'Ask a Question' Tab at regular intervals. To stay up to date with new information please follow this page by clicking the yellow + Follow button at the top of the page.

Answers to questions that have been raised with us so far:

Reason for the project

How did this project come about?

Following the Bunyip Complex Fires in March 2019, the Community Recovery Committee – Bunyip Complex Fires, advocated strongly for a new community centre in Garfield North to help the community in their recovery. This Committee consists of residents and groups impacted by the fires. They needed a place for new and existing community groups to meet, for events to be held in, and to foster social connections.

There are several community groups in Garfield North and surrounds which have no appropriate place to hold committee meetings and events. There are other groups who are also interested in providing programs and activities at the proposed centre to meet community need.

In October 2021, prior to applying for the grant funding to support this project, Council engaged with the following groups and received letters of support for the grant application:

The funding application was supported by these community groups and was successful. This phase of engagement is to gather your views about the concept plan with further consultation to occur in late 2022/early 2023 on the detailed design and operating model for the centre. The concept plan has been designed to accommodate a variety of uses and user groups through the inclusion of different rooms, facilities, amenities and storage.

Location

Does the building have to be in Cannibal Creek Reserve?

The building does not have to be in this reserve. However, an alternative location would need to meet the needs of the modular building and be located within the same community as part of the funding requirements. The location would also need to support permit requirements for the final design.

Design & Construction

Can the size of the building be altered; can it be made smaller?

Yes, we may be able to reduce the size of the overall building if that is what stakeholders such as user groups and community tell us.

Can the large area be designed to be split by a folding wall into two spaces?

Yes, dependent on budget we can investigate installing a folding wall in the social room.

Can a double sliding door be placed in the western wall?

Yes, dependent on budget we can investigate a sliding door on the western wall

Can internal spaces be changed – larger cleaners room, larger kitchen and storage room if the total space doesn’t alter?

Yes, dependent on budget we can investigate a larger cleaners room, larger kitchen and storage room, however the overall space cannot be made larger.

Will the building include off grid capability? Solar power and battery? Will it be able to be used during power outage with a generator?

This is not currently within the scope of works. We can investigate this further if the budget allows.

Will tank water be available for grey water options? How large will the tanks be? Where would the tanks and pump be located?

This is not currently within the scope of works. We can investigate this further if the budget allows.

How will the space be heated and cooled?

Heating and cooling will most likely be using split system air conditioners, however these details will be finalised during the design process

Will landscaping to the area be included?

Yes, there is an allocation in the project budget for landscaping.

How many people will the building cater for?

The preliminary designs allow for up to 100 people within the social room.

Safety & Accessibility

The existing plan impacts the disabled mount ramp beside the Williams arena and may impact access to the main arena for trucks. Can the build avoid impacting areas like this?

Accessibility is extremely important; we will design the new building to suit the existing space enhancing accessibility.

Will the building be set up with sprinkler system – for bushfire situations.

The BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) rating for the building will determine requirements such as sprinkler systems. This is yet to be determined.

Will external lighting and car park lighting be included?

Yes, there will be some external lighting and carpark lighting included in the project. Details will be finalised during the design process.

How will potential vandalism be managed?

Council will consider Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles to discourage vandalism.

Construction impacts

How much of the reserve will be closed while the build takes place? When and for how long?

Furniture and Fittings

Will furniture be included in the build?

Yes, there is an allocation in the project budget for furniture, fixtures and equipment.This will include tables, chairs, pinboards, kitchen equipment, AV equipment and other items within the allocated budget.

Maintenance

Who will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance and upkeep and will there be any financial support for this?

Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning (DELWP) , Council and the Reserve Committee of Management will work together with user groups and the community to establish a facility management model that best fits the use of the new centre.

Parking

How many parking spaces will there be and where will they be located? Will there be disabled parking spaces?

Yes, parking, including disabled parking will be provided. Details will be finalised during the detailed design process.

The $2.3 million project will be jointly funded by the Victorian Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund and Cardinia Shire Council’s Capital Works Program.

The project has come about due to a lack of adequate community meeting spaces to serve the Garfield North community and surrounding areas. The proposed site is located within Cannibal Creek Reserve, which covers over 25 acres of bushland, walks, equestrian arenas, and activities area. The reserve is Crown land and managed by a DELWP-appointed community Committee of Management.

Currently, the only facilities at the reserve are a stand-alone canteen, small pony club shed and a public toilet block which is locked when not in use. There are currently no indoor facility for the Committee of Management and existing reserve user groups to hold committee meetings, social events, or to remain dry in inclement weather.

Similarly, there are several other community groups in Garfield North and surrounds which also have no appropriate place to hold committee meetings and events. There are other groups who are also interested in providing programs and activities at the centre to meet community need.

This issue of lack of facilities and places for social connection was magnified in the wake of the Bunyip Complex Fires, which occurred on 1 March 2019 when several bushfires commenced in and around the Bunyip State Park due to lightning strikes, and eventually joined to form one large fire impacting several communities in the area, including Garfield North, Tonimbuk, Nar Nar Goon North and Tynong North. 29 homes were destroyed, and an additional two buildings were damaged and deemed uninhabitable. A further 67 sheds and outbuildings were also damaged.

Currently, the community continues in a recovery phase, where impacts of disasters on affected individuals and communities can be profound, long-lasting and life changing. The Garfield North Community Centre project is one part of a long-term, multilayered social and developmental process to support the rehabilitation of individuals and the community at large in this area.