Variation sought on funding

24 February 2020

 Strathbogie Shire Council will seek a variation on a funding commitment around a Post-Traumatic Stress Wellness Centre proposed for Euroa.

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the decision to seek a variation on the conditions around the $50,000 pledged by the Australian Government was agreed.

This resulted after it was advised that the vacant buildings on Euroa Health property, known as Euroaville and Amaroo, and referenced in the original application for funding, were no longer available for the proposal.

Euroa Health has offered a greenfield site as an alternative to the vacant buildings and is happy to work with the steering committee to progress the project.

The decision to write to the Hon. Michael McCormack MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, was determined by the Council as it could potentially allow the funding to be used for a feasibility study should other suitable sites in the Strathbogie Shire become apparent.

The Post-Traumatic Stress Wellness Centre project proposal would provide retired veterans and emergency service workers and volunteers suffering post Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) with short term accommodation, wellbeing services and training and employment opportunities, as appropriate, to assist in helping individuals transition from difficult wellbeing and minimise the risk of homelessness.

Strathbogie Mayor Cr Amanda McClaren said the strong community support for the project to date meant that it would be beneficial if the funding for a feasibility study could be broadened to allow for assessment of alternative sites.

“We are pleased that we have been able to continue working with our community on this important project,” she said.

“We look forward to hearing from Minister McCormack about the outcome and will advise the community accordingly.”

Euroa Health Chief Executive Officer Cherree Hunter said that the organisation would soon embark on its next four-year Strategic Plan and development of a Master Site Plan in consultation with the community.

“To firmly commit the vacant buildings of Euroaville and Amaroo to the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Wellness Centre prior to undertaking the processes of community consultation would not enable us to identify what it is the people of Euroa want from the health service both now and into the future,” Ms Hunter said.

“Currently the Amaroo and Euroaville buildings have been vacant for several years, with annual costs of maintaining the buildings in their current status in excess of $35,000.

“A feasibility study for the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Wellness Centre was anticipated to have taken a further 12 months to complete and, if viability was determined, further time would be taken to gain funding for significant site refurbishment and building works.”