THE furore over Brimbank’s proposed civic centre is set to continue following a renewed push to scrap plans for the $30 million facility.

Outspoken Harvester Ward councillor Geraldine Brooks has, once again, vowed to fight against the project and will call on her fellow councillors to abandon what she has termed a waste of ratepayers’ money.

Cr Brooks will urge the council to reconsider the civic centre plan at the next ordinary meeting scheduled for 26 June.

It is the second time the Ardeer resident has spoken out against a civic centre.

In April Cr Brooks moved an urgent motion asking the council to withdraw its plans for the facility, a major project funded in this year’s budget.

Despite vehement opposition from residents who have slammed the proposal, the majority of councillors stood by the plan, refusing to even second Cr Brooks’ motion.

However, Cr Brooks says she is determined to keep up the pressure and will repeat her motion at the next council meeting.

She believed the money could be better spent on improvements to parks and community facilities, rather than what she called a “shrine” to councillors.

“The benefits of this could flow immediately as the $2 million in the current draft budget that is destined for architects’ design fees could go towards parks and playgrounds straight away,” Cr Brooks said.

“By this summer, our kids could be playing in an extra $2 million worth of desperately needed playground and park improvements.”

Although the push is expected to be quashed by the remaining councillors, all of whom have previously lent support to the scheme, at least one councillor appeared to be reconsidering.

Horseshoe Bend Ward councillor Stuart Miller recently told Star he wasn’t yet sold on the idea of a new civic centre. “I’m still not convinced,” said Cr Miller.

The civic centre plan has been slammed by some residents who claim $30 million is an outrageous sum to spend on updating council offices.

“It’s ridiculous,” said St Albans resident Ken Horenga. “They’ve just come up with this new plan and they haven’t bothered consulting the community.