$40 million boost for North Melbourne Community Centre in new council budget

The long-awaited new North Melbourne Community Centre has emerged as a major winner in the City of Melbourne’s 2025–26 draft budget, with $40 million earmarked over the next four years to deliver what will become a vital civic hub for the fast-growing Macaulay precinct.

The proposed 3000sqm facility will more than double the footprint of the existing Jean McKendry Neighbourhood Centre and Hotham Hub at 91–115 Melrose St, replacing both centres with a modern, multi-use building designed to serve the area’s rapidly increasing population.

According to the council, the new centre will include a range of new and expanded services such as maternal child health and family services, youth programming in partnership with Drummond St Services, ageing and inclusion services, large community function spaces, meeting rooms and a commercial kitchen.

The draft concept design – recently developed and presented for community consultation – proposes a welcoming space where locals can access services, connect with others and celebrate culture. The feedback gathered through the consultation process is now being used to shape a final design, which is expected to go before councillors for endorsement in August 2025.

The council’s community, health and city services portfolio lead Cr Gladys Liu said the investment reflected the City of Melbourne’s commitment to delivering quality infrastructure for growing neighbourhoods.

“Community facilities are the lifeblood of our neighbourhoods – with our libraries, recreation and community centres playing a key role in enhancing our city’s liveability,” Cr Liu said.

“As more people choose to call Melbourne home, we need to use our limited space wisely – investing in modern facilities that can be enjoyed for generations to come.”

Once complete, the new centre will also replace the North Melbourne Community Centre on Buncle St, with the council promising that existing recreation facilities such as the basketball court and gym will continue operating throughout construction and be considered in future planning.

While the project represents a significant infrastructure commitment, the centre’s delivery timeline has shifted. Last year’s budget anticipated major expenditure to begin in 2024–25, but the current draft budget pushes most of that funding out to 2028–29, with just $954,000 allocated for the coming financial year.

As reported by sibling publication CBD News in its budget analysis, the shift effectively delays the project by at least 12 months, despite earlier signals of an 18- to 24-month construction timeframe beginning from mid-2024.

First unveiled in 2023, the project has undergone multiple stages of community consultation, with strong feedback supporting the need for upgraded community infrastructure. Council officers have noted the importance of replacing ageing facilities with a fit-for-purpose building, especially in Macaulay, where the population is expected to more than triple from 3150 to 10,000 residents by 2051.

“This new centre will help us meet the neighbourhood’s current and future needs – ensuring community members have easy access to a range of vital services and programs, closer to home,” Cr Dr Olivia Ball said last year.

The council is also exploring options to include open space and recreational facilities on the Melrose St site and elsewhere in the precinct, confirming that there would be no loss of local recreational amenity as a result of the project. •