By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A long-abandoned leisure centre in Narre Warren has become a hive of vandals, drug users and squatters – just metres from a neighbouring playgroup.
Children and staff look out from Narre Community Learning Centre’s playground onto the ruins of the former Rebound Fitness Club at 5 Rebound Court.
In full view are dumped shopping trolleys, bins, graffiti-strewn walls and a makeshift table with milk-crate seats and a discarded bong.
Staff have also tried to deter loiterers from hanging outside their playground fence.
The inside of the centre has been trashed by intruders.
Every surface – including the large, empty pool – is tagged with layers of graffiti.
Holes are punched in walls, bathroom fittings torn out.
Like many parents, Narre Community Learning Centre chief executive Wayne Hewitt used to drop off his kids for swimming lessons at the club – which boasted a pool, gym and squash courts.
For the past two years, he has lobbied for Casey Council to buy up the desolate site and transform it into an asset.
“The (trespassers) are treating it as a drop-in centre effectively
“It’s just a nuisance and a blight on the local landscape. We’ve agitated for some time for something to be done.”
Mr Hewitt proposes a hub for services such as indigenous childcare, youth and indigenous vocational training in its stead.
It would be a valuable addition to a precinct of shops, eateries and community education services – and a short walk from Narre Warren railway station, he argues.
Most of the anti-social issues appear to occur at night but Mr Hewitt has confronted young-adult loiterers “leering at little kids” in the playground.
On one occasion, the men responded by trying to jump the playground fence, forcing Mr Hewitt to lock the centre’s doors.
“Our concern is the potential (harm) not the actual.
“We have no control over what’s happening over there – and it’s not necessarily socially appropriate.”
Several years ago, the former facility was touted as a potential mosque and community centre by the Hazara group, the Etrat Institute of Australia.
It was however effectively abandoned in 2014 when Etrat’s plan was rejected by Casey Council due to an abject parking shortfall.
Mr Hewitt has made unsuccessful attempts to contact Etrat since. “If you can’t use it, sell it,” is his advice.
Casey Council has been considering compulsorily acquiring the site since September 2016.
Casey spokesman Gerard Scholten said the council was undertaking a community-service needs study in Narre Warren to identify whether the property needed to be acquired.
Mr Scholten said the council was concerned about the state of the building and the danger it posed to the community.
The owner had complied with an emergency order from Casey – which was to install new doors and signage to stop the building being accessed, Mr Scholten said.
“The building is prohibited from being occupied until some building and safety issues are addressed, and Council is working with the owner to ensure the building is kept secure in the meantime”
Casey had previously cleaned up graffiti of an “offensive nature” and responded to graffiti reports.
“(The council) is currently receiving the necessary permissions to remove further graffiti from the building.
“If residents are concerned about illegal or anti-social behaviour, they should contact Victoria Police.”
