By Christine de Kock
DISABILITY services organisation David House hopes to undertake a $3.5 million upgrade of their premises in Williamstown Rd, Yarraville.
David House works under the auspices of Annecto – The People Network, which own parts of the site and leases part from the Maribyrnong City Council.
At last Tuesday’s community access meeting, Annecto CEO Estelle Fyffe asked councillors to find an appropriate means of supporting the plan.
In their written proposal to council, David House proposed that either the council transfer the land to Annecto or consider a long term lease of about 50 years, in addition to a “considerable” rental concession.
Fifty years is the maximum term of a lease available under the Local Government Act.
The proposal stated that a 50-year lease would justify community donations to the project.
“If people are going to donate to the project we want to know that it will be available to them indefinitely,” Ms Fyffe said.
When the centre was first established in 1958 it was a joint project with Footscray Council.
It initially assisted eight people but now more than 300 use the service.
The building is run down. Annecto plans to tear down the existing facilities and rebuild it from scratch over a period of about three years.
David House also aims to make the facility available to the general community.
“We hope to work through the council to network with community groups who would be interested in using the new facilities when they are available,” Ms Fyffe said.
David House also states in its proposal that a long term arrangement would provide a “level of comfort” for parents and carers of people with a disability as it would imply that the service would continue to support services users “beyond their life span”.
The proposal stated that Annecto would fund the redevelopment.
The issue will be discussed tonight (19 September) at the monthly council meeting.
