By Bonny Burrows
The Emerald Hills Hub project is back on track with detailed designs in the works.
The multi-million dollar hub has been highly anticipated within the community, but has suffered numerous setbacks over the past three years due to planning disagreements over whether to demolish the old hall and rebuild by the project’s advisory committee.
The advisory committee comprises the Emerald U3A, the Eastern Dandenong Ranges Project Group (EDRPG) and the Emerald Village Committee.
But Cardinia Shire Council on Friday announced the project had progressed to the detailed design stage, with the aim of producing final plans for tender “in the coming months”.
The hub will integrate a range community services under the one roof, including health and counselling services, a radio station, an arts space and local tourism among others, to support the Emerald and surrounding communities.
These services will be housed in a renovated Emerald library and Mechanics Hall precinct and a new building, to be built in the space currently occupied by the town’s Men’s Shed and U3A building.
Cardinia Shire Council team leader of Community Development Tim Cooper said the hub would address important social, health and economic issues by connecting people in the community.
“This way, the community has far greater access to community groups and activities, health services, educational and skills-based learning, and local business information,” Mr Cooper said.
Emerald Village Committee chairman Dick Bartley said it was great to see progress being made.
“It’s been a long time coming with quite a few hurdles to cross but we have finally crossed them,” Mr Bartley said.
He said he expected many community groups including the Men’s Shed of about 50 members and the U3A of an estimated 330 members, to take advantage of the new facilities.
“We look forward to the day it’s actually open and we want to see as many community groups as possible in Emerald be able to use it.
“From the village committee’s perspective, that’s what we really want; more people using it.”
Construction is expected to commence sometime this year.
