$5m wanted for brighter Outlook

By Melissa Meehan
LOOKING for a sunny outlook, Pakenham’s prime disability support organisation Outlook met with Bass Labor candidate Gerry Lonergan to discuss the need for a new facility.
Outlook CEO Tony Fitzgerald said the tired facilities at the Toomuc Valley Road head office were in desperate need of an update. He wants $5 million of government funding to make it happen.
“What we really need is a new centre. The one we have is tired and falling apart,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
“We already have the plans drawn up and we would need $5 million to make it happen.”
Mr Lonergan said he was interested in the project, but could not make any promises despite it being an election year.
“I am very interested in the project,” he said.
“But I need to sit down with Tony and discuss the finer details and go away with more information at this point in time.”
Councillor Collin Ross also attended the meeting and said he was in full support of the organisation and was hoping to use some of his councillor funds to help out the centre.
Outlook’s plan is to knock down the current site and build a new community centre that would provide a range of activities.
The next step, according to Mr Fitzgerald is to send a critical invitation to Bill Shorten, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, to visit the centre and see how important government funding would be.
“In an election year we want to make sure that everyone knows how imperative the new centre is to our service and survival,” Mr Fitzgerald said.