By Mikayla van Loon
Mooroolbark Community House was approved for funding after a unanimous vote from Yarra Ranges councillors to include the project in the council’s Neighbourhood House Partnership Program.
Qualifying for the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) funding in June 2024, the Mooroolbark Umbrella Group (MUG) sought inclusion in the council’s funding program as well.
The decision on Tuesday 25 March confirmed “funding of $20,000 until incorporated status is achieved and then (to) increase to the same level as the other Neighbourhood Houses”.
“Council funding will assist with developing a sustainable operating model with strong community-led governance to further strengthen the Mooroolbark community,” the council meeting agenda read.
The ability to fund a new neighbourhood house under the council’s program was enabled by the closure of the Kallista Community House in December 2022.
MUG representative Randall Bourchier said on Tuesday that the group was very grateful for the support of DFFH, Community Houses Association of the Outer-eastern Suburbs (CHAOS) and the council in getting to the first stages of creation.
“We’ve very much appreciated the process thus far in the establishment of the Mooroolbark Community House. It’s a milestone that’s celebrated in the community,” he said.
Under the leadership of house coordinator Renae Jones and the newly elected steering committee, Mr Bourchier said the house was in a good position to grow and thrive.
“Already there are some weekly activities underway in the house, and more will follow next term, after the completion of some necessary policy work,” he said.
“At a meeting of key stakeholders this morning (Tuesday), the DFFH rep commented that we have everything in place to be successful, and another of the stakeholders commented that we’re tracking very well and there are vibrant relationships between all parties as we head towards incorporation.”
Mr Bourchier said the timeline for incorporation was expected to be “if not finalised, then well advanced by December of this year”.
Until that time, Mr Bourchier said this “vital funding” from the council would ensure “further growth in its capacity and its desire to serve the entire Mooroolbark Community”.
Positive feedback was received from all urban-based councillors, commending MUG and the many volunteers in the establishing of a community house.
“I have no doubt in my mind that the leadership in Mooroolbark will be able to set the scene for this community house to have a really good connection with the community,” Councillor Tim Heenan said.
“I just applaud every community house we have in the Yarra Ranges because they do such fantastic work and certainly when they could during Covid, they were there as a beaming light when many other organisations could not be so I wish success to everyone in the future connected with the house.”
Pushing through the motion, Cr Mitch Mazzarella said “this will be an incredibly exciting opportunity” to bring together various groups in the one space.
“This will just help activate that Mooroolbark Community Centre, even more, especially with Kinley and the development there, that’ll bring thousands of new residents that need somewhere to go to build that sense of community, and it’s going to be so important these community houses across the Shire and especially in Mooroolbark,” he said.
“Congratulations to the Mooroolbark Umbrella Group, to CHAOS, to Randall and to everyone else that’s been involved in the house in any way, shape or form. We look forward to its incorporation and to its prospering, whether that be hopefully by December this year, or whenever that may be in the near future.”
