The Government has agreed to meet with the Committee of Management of the Orbost Rainforest Centre on the long term future of the Orbost Neighbourhood House, after it was requested in Parliament by Gippsland East Nationals MP Tim Bull.

“I sought from the Minister a more secure tenancy arrangement that would enable the Neighbourhood House to upgrade and invest in the facility for the longer term and this is a positive first step, said Mr Bull.

“The Orbost Neighbourhood House provides a range of services to the local community in the areas of disability and aged and has plans to expand these, but it needs some certainty about its future that the current annual licence fee does not provide.

“The Orbost Rainforest Centre reserve which hosts the Neighbourhood House is an important community facility and is a credit to the Snowy Wilderness Discovery Centre Committee of Management.

“I appreciate the great work that has been achieved by the Committee of Management in developing the Rainforest Centre reserve.

“The Neighbourhood House has found this to be a great location for its operations.”    

President of the Orbost Neighbourhood House, Gavan McDonald, said he was pleased there would be an opportunity to discuss their plans and to hopefully secure a future at the Rainforest Centre reserve.

“One of our early priorities will be to upgrade the food preparation facilities so that we can increase our meals programme from fortnightly to weekly,” said Mr McDonald.

“The only constraint we face is not having suitable facilities and with a longer term tenure we will be able to make the investment that is needed.”

       

Caption: Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, at the Orbost Neighbourhood House which is hoping to secure a sustainable long term future at the Rainforest Centre reserve.