By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
JASON Wood, Federal Member for Latrobe, was at the Youth Services and Inspiro site in Belgrave on Tuesday to announce a $3.8 million funding boost for the new Belgrave Multi-Purpose Health Hub.
This is the largest federal funding grant Yarra Ranges Council has ever received.
The $8.3 million new community health hub will combine many services for the community including physical, mental and dental health services.
Yarra Ranges Council has committed to funding the remaining costs but will lobby for more input from both state and federal governments.
Yarra Ranges councillor Mike Clarke expressed his happiness at the announcement of the funding for this project.
“Preventative health care is a big need in this area,” he said.
“This funding and these services are a dream come true.”
The project has received this funding on top of a $1 million grant from the State Government.
The new community health hub will create approximately 70 new jobs in the area from construction through to employment once completed.
The hub will house council’s maternal and child health, youth services and aged and disability services as well as Inspiro’s Belgrave services and the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service (DRERS).
Tania Bevan of DRERS said the upgrade was much-needed for their organisation.
“It’ll be an absolute honour to be part of this building,” she said.
The hub will be built to respond to community needs analysis and research conducted by the Yarra Ranges Council since 2010.
Ali Wastie, Director of Social and Economic Development for council said this new building will become “a one-stop-shop for community health services”.
Mr Wood also stressed the need for a headspace office in the new site to accommodate the issues in the youth community of the area.
“Issues such as youth suicide, ice use and depression are ripping through the community and you cannot have enough services in these areas,” he said.
The planning permits for the site have been submitted to council and the project is expected to be completed in mid-2017.
The hub will be located on the current youth services and Inspiro site next to the Cameo Theatre on Burwood Highway.
