Greater Shepparton City Council has cleared the way for the sale of two lots of land to be developed for an early parenting centre and accommodation for health workers.
Council owns the land at 45 Parkside Dve in Shepparton, which used to be part of the now defunct International Village.
After public consultation, a recommendation was taken to council’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 26, that two parcels of land be sold at market value.
One, a 7761 sqm block, is to be sold to Victoria’s Department of Health for it to build accommodation for GV Health staff.
The second is a 5985 sqm block to be sold to the department for an early parenting centre to be constructed.
Cr Fern Summer moved the motion and said she believed the sale of the two plots of land would benefit the community.
“Councillors have gone over this in great detail, and most of us, if not all of us, are quite comfortable with the way that this has gone ahead,” she said.
“It’s something that is a positive development and it’s going to have some good impacts.”
Cr Ben Ladson seconded the motion and said the early parenting centre, in particular, would help families in the Goulburn Valley.
“This proposal is ground-breaking stuff for Shepparton, and it’s desperately needed, and it just goes to show that GV Health is doing everything it can to support young families in our region,” he said.
GV Health currently rents about 70 residential properties in Shepparton to accommodate around 140 to 145 people a night. It also rents 30 serviced apartments each night, meaning it needs up to 180 beds a night for staff under various employment agreements.
It’s a point Cr Geoff Dobson picked up on during the meeting.
“I think the mix we have here is pretty good because, one, it gives a facility to the community, which is required, and, two, it has been mentioned that the Goulburn Valley hospital, as I call it, GV Health, requires some accommodation for nurses,” he said.
“I mean, there are a lot of nurses required around the Goulburn Valley and the biggest drawback is that we can’t find accommodation.”
Cr Seema Abdullah noted that some advocates for an early parenting centre argued the proposed site was inappropriate and should be closer to Shepparton’s CBD.
“It’s important to acknowledge that while stakeholder consultations and engagement by the Department of Health for this site’s selection could have been better, the need for such a facility definitely outweighs the perceived imperfections of the site,” she said.
“In other words, it is better to have a functional option now rather than wait a few more years. Something is better than nothing.”
It was a point also mentioned by Cr Anthony Brophy, who said ideally the early parenting centre would be closer to the CBD, but the appropriate land wasn’t available.
“I have given this proposal great consideration and it really does tick most of the boxes,” he said.
“It is warranted, it is needed, it is located in a supportive residential area, and it has the sound backing academically, professionally and economically from GV Health.”
Cr Dinny Adem said the views of the objectors were taken seriously, especially a group, that has been at the forefront of arguing for an early parenting centre.
“They were also health professionals who have been in the game for a long time and they were not objecting to the concept,” he said.
“Obviously not, because they were actually the drivers of the whole concept some of these people, but to the site in respect to the convenience for the actual user, but I feel comfortable enough that that can be overcome.”
Deputy Mayor Sam Spinks said the two developments would help revitalise the Parkside Gardens Estate, as well as provide two vital services to the community.
“Win, win, win, win. I just think it’s going to be so beneficial to our community in many ways,” she said.
Another to support the proposed sale was Cr Greg James, who said the early parenting centre was vital for helping young families.
“This is such a positive and proactive proposal, with so many advantages for our community,” he said.
“The Department of Health and Goulburn Valley Health need to be congratulated on this initiative.”
Mayor Shane Sali also supported the motion.
“It’s been acknowledged that this is a really positive outcome, although not perfect, and I don’t think we would expect it to be perfect, but I think our core responsibility is to facilitate good outcomes, and that is what is here in front of us and that parcel of land, in my opinion, is one to utilise,” he said.
“It’s a prominent location connected to key services. These are the things we should be looking at.”
The motion was carried unanimously.