By Deputy Mayor, Councillor Diana Grima
It was great to get a look inside the new Altona Meadows Library recently as the redevelopment nears completion.
I got a peek at how the work is coming along with my fellow Wetlands Ward councillor, Matt Tyler, and Point Cook MP Mat Hilakari, and I'm so excited for what it's going to mean for our community.
When it's finished later this year, the new Altona Meadows Library will be an incredible asset for our community.
Not only will it have all the great aspects we have come to know and love from our libraries – the ability to borrow books and DVDs, use a computer and get advice from our expert staff – it will also have two other important features.
It will be a Council+ service site, where you'll be able to do all your Council-related business such as paying your rates, applying for permits and registering your pet.
It will also be our first Centre of Excellence. We will eventually have six of these centres around Hobsons Bay, each with its own theme.
The theme at Altona Meadows will be STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics). The new-look centre will have new technology integrated in purpose-built learning spaces, helping our residents learn and use technology more easily.
You can subscribe to the Libraries' enewsletter at Hobsons Bay Libraries to make sure you don't miss out on news of the launch.
It's great to see the bright new netball courts in Laverton on Railway Avenue complete. They've recently been resurfaced to remove cracks, humps and dips, and new netball poles have been installed.
The hot pink surface around the courts is certainly eye-catching and the whole redevelopment now matches the team uniform of Victoria University Vultures Netball Club, which uses the courts for training.
Nearly 200 netballers are members of the club and on any given night about 75 netball players are on the courts, so they will certainly get good use.
Finally, a reminder that the Daughters of the West program is starting again soon in Laverton and Newport, and it's not too late to register.
The 10-week program is for women aged 18 and over, and will take you through a range of activities to help you improve both your physical and mental health and wellbeing.
