Mornington Peninsula Shire is currently inviting the community to comment on the preferred site for the Southern Peninsula Youth Hub.
At its Council Meeting on 10 December 2019, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council resolved the preferred site for the development of the Southern Peninsula Youth Hub is a facility on the Olympic Park Reserve site (incorporated with or next to the Rosebud Soccer and Baseball Pavilion) in Rosebud.
Community consultation with young people last year resulted in nearly 1,000 responses, helping to shape site selection criteria, including:
- a location where young people want to be
- site accessibility
- welcoming and visible site
- physical site considerations
- close to other support services and spaces.
To date, 16 community service providers and stakeholders including Headspace and Peninsula Health have indicated in-principle commitment to the establishment of an expanded Youth Hub on the Southern Peninsula.
Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor Councillor Sam Hearn said "it's crucial to this project's success that the selected site be the right fit for our local young people".
"We're moving forward with this project as we know the current site is too small and can't provide the much-need services for our youth."
Mornington Peninsula Shire Seawinds Ward Councillors Frank Martin and Simon Brooks said "the health and wellbeing of young people is a priority for Council and as the current site cannot provide the required services Council is looking forward to a hub that can bring the community together".
The Hub, scheduled for completion in 2023, will bring multiple groups under one roof, providing our young people support with mental health, wellbeing, recreation, education, training and employment.
Mornington Peninsula Shire will continue to work closely with local mental health services including Headspace, Peninsula Health, Monash Health, Skills Plus and local schools to deliver these essential services.
Demand for these support services has grown, particularly on the Southern Peninsula where the needs and vulnerabilities of young people are high due to isolation, lack of public transport, poverty, drug and alcohol issues.
Approximately one in four young Australians aged 16-24 years face some form of mental health challenge every year, and three quarters of all mental illness manifests in people under the age of 25. Support early in life and at an early stage of illness can reduce the duration and impact of mental illness, and therefore brings lifelong benefits to individuals and communities.
Headspace currently provides limited counselling and program services from each of the Shire's Youth Centres in Hastings, Mornington and Rosebud.
On 17 July 2019, Federal Member for Flinders, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP made an election commitment of $1.5 million in contribution to the Shire's Youth Hub to service the Southern Peninsula.
The initial concept plans indicate the total project construction funding would be in the range of $5 million. Council has currently allocated $200,000 in the 2019/2020 financial year to progress the project to the detailed design phase.
The development of the Olympic Park site may also require further funding to include a Baseball and Soccer Pavilion as part of the project. Concept plans (integrated or standalone) are currently being developed and Council is anticipating commencement of construction late next year.
HOW TO HAVE YOUR SAY
Community consultation is currently open and closes 5pm Wednesday 11 March 2020.
Online
To complete an online form visit: mornpen.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay.
Forms will be made available to complete in hard copy at the Shire's offices in Rosebud, Mornington, Hastings and Somerville
Email your submission to: [email protected] with the subject line 'Southern Peninsula Youth Hub'.
Post
Attention: Infrastructure Planning
Re: Southern Peninsula Youth Hub Preferred Location
Mornington Peninsula Shire
Private Bag 1000, Rosebud VIC 3939
