By Mikayla Van Loon
Japara’s Kilsyth Community Hub has been handed a long term lifeline after an independent report identified a need for increased funding from Yarra Ranges Council.
Having engaged CMF Consulting in December last year, a review was carried out to understand the best way forward for the community hub in Kilsyth to ensure its survival.
The review made a number of recommendations in relation to the lease structure, maintenance and governance of the hub, as well as increasing funding to $85,000 per annum.
Japara board chair Mark Doubleday welcomed the review’s findings to provide a sustainable future for the Montrose, Kilsyth, Mooroolbark and surrounding community.
“This is the beginning of a new partnership approach between the council and Japara in the management of one of the council’s major community hubs,” he said.
Throughout the pandemic, Mr Doubleday told Star Mail in April this year that the hub’s revenue declined dramatically, with a 70 per cent income loss from venue hire alone.
“The Hub is not a commercial business – it is a community service for the people of Kilsyth, Montrose, Mooroolbark and the wider community – it can’t break even without Council support,” Mr Doubleday said.
“This is the case of all the community hubs in Yarra Ranges whether managed by the council directly or a not for profit such as Japara Neighbourhood House.”
Since the return to normal schedules, classes and hiring of the facility, Mr Doubleday said Japara has seen a great improvement in numbers attending the hub but “there is no return to pre-pandemic circumstances”.
The improvements can be seen in the human impact being created, with Mr Doubleday noting that 145 families or individuals attended the food market twice a month, 120 children benefited from occasional care each week and around 600 individuals enjoyed classes and social engagement throughout the 2022-23 year.
Voting unanimously to endorse the report’s recommendations at the Yarra Ranges Council meeting on Tuesday 22 August, councillors agreed that the longevity of the hub was essential to community benefit.
In the absence of Councillor Len Cox, a major supporter of the Kilsyth Community Hub for decades, Cr Andrew Fullagar moved the motion to adopt the recommendations.
“[Japara has] a proven track record of a long history of supporting Montrose, Kilsyth, Mooroolbark and surrounds and it’s so vitally important that that continues,” he said.
Cr Fullagar supported each of the changes, especially the “provision and cost sharing, for example maternal and child health so there’s a fairer share of load there”, the funding increase from $70,000 to $85,000 and better cost arrangements for maintenance.
“The recommendations are fair and reflect an improved model and most importantly, the relationships between Japara and the council will further strengthen with both parties offering extensive goodwill to the table,” he said.
Mr Doubleday said early modelling of growth and density in the area showed the future need of the spaces like the Japara Community Hub for recreation and connection.
Seconding the motion Cr Tim Heenan said he had “great faith” in what Japara will be able to achieve moving forward with the improved funding and ongoing support.
“It’s a good understanding of what Kilsyth is going to need in the future coming out of his community house and I think you’re already addressing that now,” he said.
Logistics of revised funding and leasing arrangements are to be discussed with senior council officers over the next couple of weeks.
Grateful to all councillors for approving the recommendations in the report, Mr Doubleday extended special thanks to Cr Cox and Cr Heenan for their ongoing support.
“The Japara Board of Management especially thanks Councillor Fullagar for moving the report recommendations and Councillor Cox for his long term support over many decades for Japara,” he said.
“Both Councillors Cox and Heenan have a long term relationship with Japara and knew the original founders of the Neighbourhood House in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s – and they (the founding women) would be very proud to see their legacy prospering with Council support.”
Seeing a brighter future for Japara in the long term, Mr Doubleday said on the night of the council meeting it has come as quite the relief for everyone working to make the hub the best it can be.
“For the first time since lockdowns finished, I sleep better at night and I think the board does and the staff do and there is a degree of confidence that’s not been seen for three years,” Mr Doubleday said.
