Life plan for wards

PLANS to establish a community health, education and business hub at the disused Warburton Hospital took another step forward last week.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato convened a meeting with representatives from almost a dozen Upper Yarra social service providers and business groups to discuss possible future uses of the hospital, which was closed in 2001.
The groups represented at the meeting included Upper Yarra Community House, River Valley Church, the Warburton Advancement League, the Warburton Community Bank, St Vincent de Paul, the Warburton Business Incubator and the Shire of Yarra Ranges.
During the meeting the group formulated a title, the Upper Yarra Community Hub Project Group, and agreed to apply to the Department of Victorian Communities for funding for a feasibility study.
Ms Lobato said the group also formulated a mission statement and agreed to become an incorporated body.
“Our aim is to investigate potential opportunities to redevelop the existing old Warburton Hospital site into a multi-function community hub facility,” she said.
“This will be determined by extensive community consultation driven by representatives of exiting Upper Yarra community and business groups.”
After the two-and-a-half hour meeting representatives from the Department of Victorian Communities were taken on a tour of the hospital.
“Community Engagement officers from the eastern region of the Department of Victorian Communities were very impressed with the facilities at the hospital,” Ms Lobato said. “They were not only intrigued by the potential of the infrastructure available, they were also pleased to have the opportunity to meet the community representatives driving the project.”
Ms Lobato said an application for funding for the feasibility study would be submitted within two weeks and, if successful, she hoped the study would be completed within the next six months.
“The initial part of the study will identify the needs of the area and the secondary purpose will be to identify the potential uses of the site,” she said.
“The Upper Yarra is lacking in basic services and we have this amazing facility full of potential that isn’t being used. It just makes common sense to get the most needed services in there.”
Warburton Community Bank vice-chairman Baden Berry said conducting a feasibility study was a step in the right direction. “This project is not about trying to get the site to function as a hospital again.
“It is about finding out what can be done and what benefits can be brought to the community,” he said.
“The study will allow local groups to have a say, to highlight what they think are the most needed services and we can work towards getting them one step at a time.”
Mr Berry said there was already a long wish list of services the community would like to see included.
“I think most people in the community would love to have a bulk billing clinic and an after hours medical service located at the site,” he said.
“I think there is also a lot of potential to establish more services for people with mental health issues and services that deal with drug and alcohol problems in the community.”
Upper Yarra Community House chief executive Sally Brennan said the potential of the project was huge. “There are opportunities here for a whole range of community services, offering direct service delivery, to be housed on the site,” she said.
“Training programs for the hospitality industry and for carers could run alongside low cost accommodation for young people at risk and basic medical services.
“Just about whatever way you look at it there are options for creating a community hub that will build on the services already working in the Upper Yarra.”
Ms Brennan said there was a lot of work to be done but that she was looking forward to being part of the study.
“Nothing will happen if we don’t give it a go,” she said.