Tired and worn out

By Melissa Meehan
ONE of Cardinia’s prime disability organisations is using facilities with leaking ceilings, rotting timber and asbestos made walls.
Housed in tired and worn out buildings in Toomuc Valley Road that are obviously beyond repair, Outlook CEO Tony Fitzgerald says the organisation is in a real crisis.
“We’ve replaced roof sheeting and it’s still flooding, the timber is rotting so badly you can push the timber on the window sills and watch it crumble – it is beyond repair,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
“I’m really worried – it’s a health and safety risk and there is no quick fix.”
Mr Fitzgerald said the Pakenham organisation had done everything it could to keep upgrading the aging facilities including replacing all plumbing and piping in the building as well as removing the majority of asbestos, but that the centre needed to be pulled down and rebuilt.
“We need $4 million funding to build a new centre,” he said.
“The current one is beyond repair and we need the funding now.”
Outlook will hold a rally to gain support for push for funding on Wednesday 4 August at 11.30am at the centre and has challenged all political candidates to attend to see how important the centre is to the community.
Everyone is invited.
“Outlook is a key community organisation servicing the electorates of La Trobe, McMillan and Holt,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
“The Community Centre is open seven days and nights a week supporting over 420 individuals and a host of community organisations.
“The Community Centre is also home to local people with a disability who have the highest support needs.”
The centre has received many visits from politicians in the lead up to both the Federal and State elections, but no promise of funding has been made by either party.