Maltese Association Hobsons Bay says it has lost trust in Hobsons Bay council after missing out – for a seventh year – on funding to expand its six-space car park for 700 members.
The association’s membership has swelled to include people from the French, Greek, Italian and Macedonian communities. Yet its car park in Collins Avenue, Altona East, still has only a handful of car spaces.
After missing out on funding last year, president Joe Attard had put councillors “on notice” by reminding them the Maltese community made up a significant proportion of voters.
“The mayor [Sandra Wilson] herself, with some other councillors, on March 25 this year, promised us that we are first on the list – like they did last year,” he said. “They said, ‘It’s a priority in the budget for 2015’. Now, they sent us a letter that we’re not even in [the capital works program] for the next five years.”
Mr Attard said the club formed in the early ’90s to help people suffering from depression and to encourage elderly, disadvantaged and isolated people to socialise.
Cr Wilson said funding for car parks was determined by the greatest community need.
