The Pasadena Community Centre upgrade was officially launched yesterday with a sod turning ceremony at the Adelaide Terrace site.
Member for Boothby Louise Miller-Frost MP, Member for Elder Nadia Clancy MP, City of Mitcham Mayor Dr Heather Holmes-Ross, Babbage Ward Councillors Aidan Greenshields and Yvonne Todd joined representatives from Troppo Architects and Cook Building, Council staff and community volunteers to mark the start of the project.
Work is already well under way at the site, where character features including portholes and pebble walls are being retained while the space is expanded and refurbished to allow for a range of community activities.
Ms Miller-Frost congratulated Council, the Pasadena And St Marys Action Group (PASMAG) and volunteers for their work activating the centre.
“This is a really great opportunity for the community," she said. "[A community centre] helps people feel at home and supported, getting to know their neighbours and living their best lives in their local community.”
Ms Clancy recalled Cr Todd and PASMAG Co-Facilitator Jody Moate approaching her before the 2022 election seeking support.
“We often talk about loneliness and isolation; being able to bring people together is so important,” she said. “This is such a beautiful welcoming space and I’m really proud to have been able to support locals and volunteers to make this happen.”
Mayor Holmes-Ross said the project had been driven by community from the outset.
“It has had the complete support of the Chamber and the contribution from the community has been absolutely fabulous,” she said. “It’s an excellent example of ‘from little things, big things grow’.”
The project is funded by a $ 3.12 million commitment from Council, $500,000 from the Government of South Australia on behalf of the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and $300,000 from a Federal Government election pledge.
The project is expected to be completed by July 2025. The Pasadena Community Centre has re-opened at a temporary location at 31a Magdalene Terrace, Pasadena.