CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Mr GREGG (Deakin) (09:31): I recently welcomed my good friend the Deputy Prime Minister out to Deakin to check out the progress of some of the great projects happening in Croydon. Back in 2022 he joined me to announce support for a new cultural hub in Croydon, and it was fantastic to return—this time as the member for Deakin—to see this project coming together.

This will be a fantastic space for our growing community to enjoy, with a new performance and events space, meeting spaces, a library and more. It forms part of the Croydon Community Wellbeing Precinct, which is really coming together, and at pace. A new multipurpose hub will also form part of the precinct, delivering great new spaces for sports clubs and other community organisations.

Supported by $7.5 million from the Albanese Labor government and another $7.5 million from Maroondah City Council, the Croydon Community Wellbeing Precinct is part of the work being done to reshape and improve Croydon. This is an exciting time for our community. We're a great place to live and work, and, as more people choose to called Melbourne's east home, the Albanese government is investing in the infrastructure and the services we need.

This includes revitalising Croydon Main Street as well. Earlier this year I was proud to welcome the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government to Deakin to announce $7.5 million to replace the old paving—and anyone who has tried to use that with a wheelchair or walking frame knows that is quite a dangerous space at the moment—upgrade the lighting and CCTV, and even add some extra street furniture and public art.

This will create a safe-driving Main Street that is better for traders, shoppers, residents and visitors. We are also upgrading local schools, and anyone driving through Croydon, particularly near the main shopping centre, would have seen construction work being done at the new gym at Croydon Primary School. I recently welcomed the Minister for Education to check out how this $6.8 million project was going.

This is going to be a brand new space not only for the students at that school but also for the diverse community of young people, with a number of activities planned for that fantastic new space. Whether it's creating new community hubs, revitalising Main Street or investing in local schools, the Albanese government is backing our community. Most of the people in Deakin would agree that Croydon has been overlooked for some time.

It's a mid-20th century vibe—the resources, while once fit for purpose, have started to fall apart. It has got old; it has aged. It is high time that this community finally got the investment it deserves.

These transformational projects are already making a real difference to the feel and livability of our area, and it just keeps getting better and better. My thanks to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, and the Minister for Education for coming out to Deakin. You are welcome back any time.