KEILOR Downs, not St Albans, is the ideal location for Brimbank’s proposed civic centre, according to Claire Mensforth.

The St Albans resident last week unveiled her vision for the $30 million civic precinct which was planned for the municipality, but shelved following the dismissal of councillors in September.

The architecture student chose to design the project as part of her final university thesis and will pass the plans on to the council by the end of the year.

After much research and field work, Ms Mensforth has settled on Taylors Road in Keilor Downs as the ideal location for a civic precinct.

Although she initially planned to locate the centre in St Albans, the student soon had other ideas.

She now believes the council’s plans to build its offices on Errington Reserve were misguided.

“It didn’t make sense for the council to be demolishing open space that is still being used,” Ms Mensforth said.

“I did initially look at Errington myself but I decided against it.

“Not only did it not make sense but would also create traffic problems in St Albans.”

Ms Mensforth said her proposal aimed to please both the council and residents and would not destroy open space.

“It’s quite a large project.

“It’s twice the size of the council’s proposal but it’s more of a precinct, rather than a civic centre,” Ms Mensforth said.

“Fifty percent of it is council offices and fifty percent is public space.”

Ms Mensforth’s vision for a civic precinct includes council offices, as well as performing arts venues and community services including a Medicare office.

Although excited by the project, the student admitted her cutting edge designs could be frowned upon by some.

“The buildings are quite futuristic looking so I’m not sure how people would react to them but I felt it was important to bring Brimbank into the future.”

Brimbank’s administrator Bill Scales has an indefinite hold on the council’s civic centre plans until permanent administrators can be appointed.