THE Braybrook community is rewriting its story one page at a time, starting with a new library.
Maribyrnong Council will develop a new $11 million Braybrook community hub on the site of a community centre, with a long-awaited library to be the jewel in the crown.
Stony Creek Ward councillor Sel Sanli has been pushing since 2008 for the council to establish a library as part of any new community development.
He said a $750,000 boost to the project, announced by Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell on a visit to the site on Monday, helped create a long-term solution for the state’s second-most-disadvantaged suburb.
“Everything starts with good education and this gives the kids access to the internet, to things that will help them research their homework and help develop better literacy.”
The library will include a book collection, technology resources, private study spaces and other flexible meeting spaces.
Cr Sanli hopes to see work on the project begin next year. He said the next phase for building a better Braybrook was developing stronger employment opportunities.
Ms Powell said the $750,000 investment would come from the Living Library Infrastructure Program.
“The Coalition government is pleased to contribute more than $750,000 to the Maribyrnong Council so that residents of Braybrook can, for the first time, access a library in their neighbourhood,” she said.
A recent report to Maribyrnong Council outlined the challenges faced by Braybrook, including high unemployment, high poker machine losses and low results on literacy.
The library will be the first new library in the Maribyrnong area in more than 30 years.
