By PETER DOUGLAS
THE Belgrave Community Hub has taken another giant leap forward, with Yarra Ranges Council and Inspiro Community Health Service last week formally marking their partnership.
Yarra Ranges Shire chief executive officer, Glenn Patterson, and Inspiro chief executive officer, Karyn McPeake, signed the Belgrave Hub Heads of Agreement, which paves a way forward for the project that could be completed as early as December next year.
The $9.3 million hub will provide a one-stop shop for essential community health services, which complement the work of local GPs.
Included in the hub plans are multi-purpose rooms, consulting and meeting rooms, children’s facilities and a car park.
Ms McPeake said she was excited over the level of support and how swiftly the project had reached this stage.
“It’s been six years since we started looking at what is the best solution around services in Belgrave,” she said.
“Here, today, we not only sign an agreement, but the project is out to tender, which is just fantastic.”
Ms McPeake said in some respects the support had been born from necessity.
“The challenge for Belgrave is that not only were we operating out of dilapidated buildings, but it was actually restricting what services we could attract to the site,” she said.
“We had a range of visiting services that neither Inspiro nor Yarra Ranges Council run.
“This included for domestic violence and sexual assault services.”
Ms McPeake expected the hub would provide great service not only for the community, but the wider region.
She said people could enjoy anonymity if they wished.
“People can come in, access a whole range of services, but others won’t know what they’re there for – which is the way we like it,” she said.
Just some of the services will include the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service (DRERS), Inspiro, maternal child health and counselling services.
The Shire’s Director Social and Economic Development, Ali Wastie, said inclusivity was also a focus of the hub.
“Many community groups will have access to a state-of-the-art facility … there will be more disability access, which had stopped some services from locating to Belgrave,” Ms Wastie said.
“What we had was not disability compliant or attracting people to come work there.”
Ms Wastie said it was the support from all levels of government that had been a linchpin for the project.
This includes $3.83 million of federal funding, $1.72 million from the state and $3.58 million from Yarra Ranges Shire, as well as a commitment from Inspiro of $250,000.
Cr Callanan expected the design of the Belgrave Community Hub would receive welcome support.
“The design is open and inviting and within the context of Belgrave,” he said.
“You might not see it in Melbourne or Kew, but it complements Belgrave.
“By going out to the community and getting them involved, it gives them ownership and I think that’s important.”
Cr Callanan said he was proud of the support and people getting together to get the hub to this stage.
