The long-held goal of establishing an Aboriginal Gathering Place to foster reconciliation and support social and cultural connections is a significant step closer after a contractor was appointed to design and construct the centre.
The City of Whittlesea resolved at its Council Meeting on 19 September to award the contract to Victorian-based 2Construct Pty Ltd after a competitive tender process.
The Aboriginal Gathering Place is a key part of Council's commitment to reconciliation and self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community has long advocated for a dedicated space from which to participate in cultural practices and knowledge-sharing.
To be built on land at Quarry Hills Regional Parkland, the centre will be a welcoming, inclusive and culturally safe space where Aboriginal people can have a sense of belonging.
A variety of services and programs will be run out of the centre to help improve health and wellbeing outcomes for the City of Whittlesea's growing Aboriginal population.
There will also be opportunities for the broader community to learn about Aboriginal culture through storytelling and events.
City of Whittlesea Administrator Peita Duncan said the Aboriginal Gathering Place will be located on Wurundjeri Country and connect to the site's landscape, flora and fauna.
"We are proud to be progressing such an important project, which we know will empower our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and provide so many benefits," she said.
"I want to thank everyone who has been involved in getting us to this point, not least of all the Whittlesea Aboriginal Gathering Place Advisory Group and Whittlesea Reconciliation Group."
Construction of the Aboriginal Gathering Place is anticipated to begin in early-to-mid 2024, with the centre expected to open in 2025.
