Richard Bisinella was not looking for his next community partnership when he first heard about The Good Neighbourhood Project.

The Managing Director of Bisinella Developments was on the sidelines of his son’s soccer match in 2017 when he got talking to the organisation's Co-Executive Director, Simon Reeves.

Simon told him about the work he and his wife, Kaylene, had poured into Norlane and their passion for improving the northern suburb's neighbourhood for its 8,000 residents.

“Hearing Simon speak about his work in the Norlane community, I quickly realised just how much this project meant to him and to the people around him,” Richard said.

“The work Simon and Kaylene Reeves have done in the community is truly extraordinary.”

That conversation is part of why Bisinella became one of the organisations to support the redevelopment of the Spruhan Avenue Neighbourhood Hub, which officially opened last week.

For more than 90 years, the site had been part of everyday life in Norlane until it was badly damaged in an arson attack in 2015 and left unusable.

Rather than walking away, The Good Neighbourhood Project spent the past decade working to bring the neighbourhood site back to life.

For Richard, helping meant putting his own experience to work.

“I felt that if my project management experience could help in some small way to support the project's delivery, I wanted to contribute,” Mr Bisinella said.

“The continued support from the Geelong community is a powerful testament to their belief in the project and the positive impact it can have on the community.”

Bisinella joined the City of Greater Geelong, the Anthony Costa Foundation, Sheily Costa & Family and the Baptist Union of Victoria as major contributors to the redevelopment, valued at approximately $2 million.

Speaking at the opening, Richard recalled phoning Peter Serra from Select Architects to get the complex renovation off the ground, with pro bono support soon following from firms including MinterEllison, Stantec, Gestalt and Zinc, alongside Bisinella's own Steve Price, who brought his construction expertise to the project.

What emerged was a lot more than a repaired building, with the hub now featuring a commercial kitchen, café space, multipurpose hall, gardens, office and meeting spaces, a quiet reflection and prayer space, and a residence for community workers.

“The Good Neighbourhood Project started from a seed, planted by Simon, Kaylene and the team, and as the community rallies around this great project and the people it serves, it has started to grow,” Richard told guests at the opening.

For Simon Reeves, the official opening of the revitalised building marked only the beginning for the Spruhan Avenue Neighbourhood Hub.

“Our hope is that Spruhan Avenue becomes a place where neighbours feel they belong, where local ideas are given room to grow, and where people have opportunities to contribute to the life of their neighbourhood,” he said.

“We believe vulnerable neighbourhoods deserve investment, not just in programs, but in people, relationships and places where community life can grow.”

Richard also paid tribute to his father, Lino, and the wider Bisinella family at the opening, saying he was pleased they could play a small part in a community-led initiative like this one.

Bisinella's support for Spruhan Avenue reflects a broader belief in investing in the people and places that make Geelong communities stronger.

This same belief shows up across Bisinella's other partnerships with Committee for Geelong, Bell Park Sports Club, Give Where You Live Foundation and the Bisinella Community Centre.

Learn more about the Spruhan Avenue Neighbourhood Hub by visiting https://www.thegoodneighbourhoodproject.org