Domestic violence - Far North emergency accommodation shelter stays empty
STILL IDLE
There is still no good news for a new domestic and family violence shelter in Mossman, which remains empty and unused because of an ongoing wrangle over when and where funding to operate the facility will come from.
The centre, which has two home units with emergency accommodation for women, children and even pets when needed, was completed more than 12 months ago but has lain idle since.
Douglas Shire Council secured a grant of $760,400 to build the ‘safe space’ centre from the previous federal government, under the proviso that Council would be able to find funding for its operation.
But securing operational money has proven to be more difficult, and much slower, than hoped.
“The grant was provided on the basis that the Douglas Shire Council would be able to deliver the funding for the proposed service provider without state government investment; however, the Council has been unable to source this operational funding,” state member for Cook, Cynthia Lui said.
Douglas Mayor, Michael Kerr, said operational funding for the centre should be the responsibility of the state, even though the centre was funded and built with the condition that Council would secure the operational funding.
“The State Government is responsible for funding services relating to domestic and family violence and Council has been advocating strongly to the Queensland State Government for the service to be funded in Mossman,” Cr Kerr said.
Slow process
Another councillor, Abigail Noli, told Newsport that realistically, funding, expected to come through the state’s Department of Justice and Attorney-General (DJAG), will not happen anytime soon.
“How far away is it? I would not be holding my breath until at least this time next year,” Cr Noli said.
“We’re trying to convince them (DJAG) to put forward the funding, and once the funding’s secure, then we can open a tender process and the service providers can put in their tenders for running that service.”
She said there won’t be a shortage of able service providers wiling to put in a tender to run the shelter once funding is finally secured.
“I believe they’re ready to go, they’re ready to make a tender, to run the facility. I think we’ve got people, service providers who’ll do it; it’s just a matter of securing funding.”
Long-term plans
Any successful service provider would likely be expected to initially run the DV shelter for three years minimum, with at least 15 years’ lifespan for the facility in its current form.
Despite any operational money having been secured yet, at its monthly meeting this week, Council resolved to in principle commit around $25,000 a year of its own funding to maintain the shelter grounds and building.
Cr Noli said this will help show the centre’s hopeful state government funders that Council is very keen to have the vital DV shelter actually operational in a region with one of the state’s highest rates of domestic and family violence.
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