The disturbing lack of political will in meeting the accommodation needs of Hobart community groups calls for further comment. Old Bear (HERE) mentions the Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS) concern over the lack of affordable premises. Here’s what it said in a recent letter to various organisations:
“Many community sector organisations in southern Tasmania struggle with the lack of affordable, accessible and appropriate space for offices and service delivery. The current situation sees our scarce funding diverted from service delivery to pay rental and relocation expenses.”
And in a letter to Premier Lara supporting the South Hobart Progress Association’s efforts to retain the old State School for such use, TasCOSS said: “These facilities represent a valuable community asset that could be redeveloped to provide much needed office and meeting space for community organisations in the Hobart area.”
It added that while it understood the pressures on the Government’s budget and the short-term benefits of selling such assets, it also appealed to the Premier that “you engage in dialogue with the community sector over the future of Weld Street and other such sites to maximise the potential to improve the accommodation situation for community organisations, adding to their viability and effectiveness in doing their vital work in communities.”
Ministerial dialogue? It hasn’t happened.
Note: Weld Street, off Macquarie Street, is the address of what was the old State School/Adult Education Centre.
