Dawesville residents have been in need of a multi-purpose centre for over a decade, according to advocate Michelle White.
A $4.6 million Dawesville community centre is currently one of the City's top priority projects in a bid to address the existing need for more affordable space for community meetings, activities, programs and health services in Mandurah's southern suburbs.
With residents forecasted to grow by 49 per cent to 13,600 by 2036, the centre would also cater for the area's fast-growing population.
Dawesville Community Centre advocate Mrs White said it would save residents "a whole lot of stress and angst trying to access services elsewhere".
"There has definitely been a need for 10 years or more...as the population has really soared in Dawesville," she said.
"Even in Mandurah itself it can difficult to get the services you need.
"We've got a lot of younger children in Dawesville and there is also a lot of elderly in the area that would benefit from a community centre."
Dawesville has the second highest percentage of school age children in Mandurah and is forecast to have the highest growth in 0-4 years old, 5-14 year olds, 25-44 year olds and 45-64 year olds.
According to a City of Mandurah spokesperson, this highlights the need to ensure services and activities for all age groups are available in Dawesville.
With residents currently travelling to and from central Mandurah for the majority of services, which can take up to one hour by bus, Mrs White said a place to access services nearby would benefit the community.
"When I needed some assistance for my daughter there were no services in the area that we could go to," she said.
"I had to resort to going to two different emergency departments before I managed to get a referral to a paediatrician at Fremantle hospital.
"Dawesville does have a lot of families that fit into the mid to low socioeconomic area and they can't necessarily afford private health insurance and a lot of people can't afford to be travelling far.
"I definitely think having something closer to home would be beneficial."
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A concept design has already been endorsed by the local community, and is expected to be complete by 2022-2023.
The concept design for the centre includes:
- A large community hall with sprung floor
- Space for outreach service delivery (e.g. child health)
- Co-working space for local enterprise
- Space for before and after school programs and playgroups, space for young people, music and performance arts, program space for arts, crafts, hobbies and informal recreation
- A large kitchen and café area
- An outdoor amphitheatre, play area and climbing wall
Both the Liberal and Labor party have announced $3 million worth of funding for the centre, if elected in the 2021 state election.
"I'm excited for Dawesville to get the community centre so people who find it hard to get into town have the opportunity to get the resources that side of Mandurah," Dawesville Labor candidate Lisa Munday said.
