By Kath Gannaway
Warburton is facing another battle to keep a valued facility in the community.
Just a few months after winning a battle against closure of the AdventCare Nursing Home, the future of the Yarra Ranges Enterprise Centre (YREC) is under threat.
The government-owned land on which the business incubation centre has been located for the past 17 years has been declared ‘surplus to needs’ by the State Government leaving it open to sale and the possibility of rezoning.
The centre’s CEO Alison Fitzgerald said the organisation had been informally told that the government was looking at selling the property.
“We have not had formal notification, but a check of the Department of Finance website confirmed plans to sell,” she said.
Sixteen businesses operate from the site, including two community-based anchor tenants, Wesley Mission’s Melba Program which runs the local Men’s Shed, and Sarina Russo Job Access.
Ms Fitzgerald said YREC’s tenants grow their businesses by engaging and communicating in the collaborative and supportive environment that has been established over the years.
The site at 21 Woods Point Road, opposite the caravan park, was originally the Melbourne Board of Works depot.
YREC was established under the Federal Government’s ‘Business Incubator’ program and over the years and has grown with funding support of a number of government organisations and Yarra Ranges Council.
Ms Fitzgerald said YREC helps people in the community who have a great business idea, but who may lack the resources and support to get a business up and running on their own.
She said the centre was strongly connected to the community engaging with groups such as Yarra Ranges Council, Warburton Advancement League, Yarra Ranges Film Society, Upper Yarra Valley Garden Club, Upper Yarra River Reserves Committee and independent businesses who use the venue to share their skills with the local community.
A spokesman for Planning Minister Richard Wynne confirmed the minister had sought internal expressions of interest for the land, including an offer to Yarra Ranges Council to purchase.
He said that as a long-term occupant of the property, YREC would also be able to make an offer for the property, either alone or with the shire.
“The centre can also work with the government to explore what funding it may be eligible for,” he said.
Any offer to purchase would need to match the Valuer-General’s valuation and meet other policy requirements.
If neither YREC nor Yarra Ranges Shire indicate an interest in purchasing, the property could be fast tracked for rezoning.
The land is currently zoned ‘Public Use’ but interested parties could make submissions on future zoning if and when that option arises.
Ms Fitzgerald said the board of management strongly believes in business incubation and YREC.
“As an organisation we are determined to advocate on behalf of the the organisation, the tenants and the community,” she said.
She said YREC was lobbying all levels of government and had written to the Planning Minister to identify options for YREC to stay on the site.
“We welcome support from our community to strengthen YREC’s position and retain this respected and valuable asset within the Warburton community,” she said.
Ms Fitzgerald can be contacted on 5966 9077.
