By Peter Douglas
THE stop-starting Hills Hub project has stalled yet again, according to the consultation group entrusted with its development.
The hub is highly anticipated within the community but has suffered numerous false starts over the past 12 months due to disagreements over the design.
The three groups driving the project are the Hills Hub Advisory Committee, the Emerald Mechanics Institute Committee of Management (EMICOM), and Cardinia Shire.
They have struggled to find common ground, in particular over whether to demolish the old hall and construct and new one.
The advisory committee comprises the Emerald U3A, the Eastern Dandenong Ranges Project Group (EDRPG) and the Emerald Village Committee.
The committee now says EMICOM has refused to accept the outcome of the recent consultation process, labelling it flawed.
The outcome of the consultation favoured demolishing of the old hall.
EDRPG member Ian Robins said the latest setback was a huge blow for the community.
“Enough is enough,” he said.
“To date, all stakeholders in the hub project have tried to accommodate EMICOM’s concerns.
But, now, to have them dispute the outcome of community consultation is the last straw.”
Movement on the project had looked to improve significantly in late September, with the completion of the community survey that gauged community preferences regarding construction.
Four scenarios were put to the community, with Scenario 4 gaining the most support (98 votes), which supported a ground-floor hall in the new facility.
After consultation, an architect was expected to start work on a detailed design, with work slated to start during the first quarter of next year.
However, after the latest development, the advisory group says they have written a joint letter to Minister for Industry, Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, and requested an intervention.
U3A member Mal Bowmaker said it was a last resort.
“We are very disappointed to have to take this step,” he said.
“But unless we get the project going again, we can see the design process being held up even more and inflation eating into the money set aside for the hub project.
“We need EMICOM to be co-operative and to get the project moving again.”
Meanwhile, Emerald Village Committee member Dick Bartley said Cardinia Shire must shoulder some of the blame.
“We have been very pleased with the patience and forbearance shown by Cardinia Shire to date,” he said.
“However, we are concerned the shire will become frustrated … and withdraw their funds.
“If they do, we would also lose the (federal funds).”
Council’s Team Leader Community Development, Tim Cooper, said he was hopeful a resolution could be reached soon.
“This is a significant project that will enable community members to easily access a whole range of community and health services at the same location,” he said.
“Council understands the frustration felt among those involved in the project, but is hopeful that a suitable resolution will be achieved through co-operation, collaboration and compromise.”
The hub development seeks to unite numerous community services under the one roof, including health and counselling services, an arts space, local tourism and more.
The initiative has received multi-million dollar funding promises from federal and local government, as well as funds from the Eastern Dandenong Ranges Group and the Dandenong Ranges Community Bank Group.
In June last year, about 100 people attended an information session at the Emerald Hall precinct to provide feedback for the initative.
Then Cardinia Shire mayor Leticia Wilmot was confident the hub would address important social, health and economic needs in the east-west corridor of the hills region.
