Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has reaffirmed its support to the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community by adopting the Willum Warrain Master Plan.
The Plan will see Willum Warrain Gathering Place in Hastings transformed into a vision for the future including a new entrance building, gathering place, large auditorium for community use, a dedicated Elders area and a community hub including café.
By adopting the Plan, the Shire is proposing to extend the site to six acres and commit to a 30-year lease. We've listened to our local Aboriginal community and we're supporting their self-determination as identified in the Shire's Reconciliation Action Plan.
The Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association is calling for funding support through their GoFundMe page to realise the first stage of the Plan.
The Shire will support Willum Warrain's grant application to the Aboriginal Victoria - Aboriginal Community Infrastructure program. If both funding streams are successful, the first stage of the building works can begin.
An investment into Willum Warrain is an investment into a destination for reconciliation and the hope and healing for Aboriginal people living on the Mornington Peninsula.
To view the Master Plan and to find our more, please visit:
mornpen.vic.gov.au/willumwarrainmasterplan
Quote attributable to Mayor Councillor Despi O'Connor:
"The Shire is pleased to have adopted the Willum Warrain Master Plan, we're supporting the Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association to achieve self-determination and we encourage our community to find out more about how the vision can benefit our whole community."
Quote attributable to Cerberus Ward Councillor Lisa Dixon:
"As our area grows, so does the need for our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to gather and explore identity and cultural heritage. We further support the Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association to realise their funding goals and we hope to see the Master Plan achieved."
