THE state government has received a funding application to help with a proposed $6.4 million Aboriginal community and health centre for Warrnambool’s Harris Reserve (pictured).
A spokesman for Aboriginal Affairs Minister Jeanette Powell confirmed yesterday an application from Gunditjmara Aboriginal Co-operative was being considered.
However, The Standard was unable to ascertain if the federal government had also been asked to help.
The Department of Health and Ageing currently funds the co-operative to deliver health services.
Meanwhile Warrnambool City Council’s growth director Bill Millard yesterday revealed a planning permit application for the project would be handed to the full council for a decision.
“Key reasons for this is that it’s a major project and the council is committee of management of the reserve,” he said.
So far the application has been handled within the council’s planning department under delegated authority considering it received only two objections from the community.
However, given the scale and value of the proposal, it has been raised to a higher level of decision-making.
It could be several weeks before the application is ready for a decision due to a backlog of work in the planning department.
Documents sent to the council and objectors indicate a completion date of six years to allow for securing funding for the three stages.
The co-operative’s earlier community centre and headquarters it occupied since 1986 was badly damaged by fire two years ago forcing it to transfer to temporary offices.
It took several months for police investigations into the deliberately-lit fire and insurance assessments to be finalised.
Stage one of the project involves an administration wing, stage two a community and cultural services centre administering preschool, mentoring, arts and sports programs plus a seven-days-a-week cafe gallery without a liquor licence.
Stage three will be a six-day-a-week health centre.
The proposed multi-storey building features a unique curved roof design.
Stage two will be about two metres above the average height of the southern embankment.
It is estimated a total of 47 full-time equivalent staff would be employed in the completed building.
The co-op has a membership of 255 people and services the wider south-west district.
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