By Derek Schlennstedt
Cardinia Shire has confirmed that funding has ceased for the Cockatoo Neighbourhood House, which announced its closure over Facebook in October.
The shire annually funds the Cardinia Shire neighbourhood house cluster which consists of eight neighbourhood houses around the municipality.
Though, these neighbourhood houses are bound contractually to meet the requirements of Cardinia Shire’s ‘funding and service agreement’.
The shire contends that Cockatoo Neighbourhood House had failed to meet this agreement.
“Cardinia Shire Council, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Community House Network have been providing support and working with the staff and the committee of management of the Cockatoo Neighbourhood House for over 12 months.”
Unfortunately, the Cockatoo Neighbourhood House has been unable to meet the ongoing requirements of the funding and service agreement, and therefore council was unable to allocate public funds to the committee of management for the 2017-’18 financial year,” general manager Community Wellbeing at Cardinia Shire, Jenny Scicluna said.
Courses will continue to be run for the remainder of 2017 and into early 2018, but it is believed full-time and part time staff at the neighbourhood house will cease work on 6 December.
“Council will work closely with DHHS and the local community to ensure essential programs can be delivered from the neighbourhood house location for the remainder of 2017 and into early 2018 as required,” Ms Scicluna said.
While there is no official closure date, it is also unclear as to what the neighbourhood house will be used for beyond 2018.
However, Cardinia Shire has said that the neighbourhood house will be ‘revitalised’, and thanked current staff and volunteers for their work.
“Council, DHHS and the Community House Network are committed to revitalising the Cockatoo Neighbourhood House, and will work closely with the local community to re-establish the neighbourhood house programs and activities in Cockatoo,” Ms Scicluna said.
“We will be seeking expressions of interest for a community reference group, to ensure we engage with the wider Cockatoo community to explore the next model of operation for a revitalised Cockatoo Neighbourhood House.”
The Cockatoo Neighbourhood House has been approached for a comment.
