The opening of the Romsey Community Health and Wellbeing Space last Thursday was a happy, enthusiastic occasion.
Those present were excited about the remarkable transformation of the town’s former primary school site, and the prospect of a visionary ecotheraphy park being completed.
Several speakers addressed the gathering before a ceremonial ribbon cutting, with Cr Natasha Gayfer stating it was “a project initiated by the local community, for the local community”.
Cr Gayfer outlined the background to the project going back 10 years when a group of residents decided they wanted a new recreational space in the town. The idea translated into action when Macedon Ranges Shire Council purchased the two-acre site, then Cobaw Community Health later expressed an interest in establishing a community health service in the rejuvenated old school building.
Now the two key elements are a new community health facility (now operating) and stage one of a nature-based regional-significance park showcasing how a natural environment can contribute positively to people’s health and wellbeing, irrespective of age.
The project has already won federal, state and local government funding and an $80,000 grant from the Bendigo Bank, but more is needed to complete it.
PICK MY PROJECT
Stage one – namely The Active Nature Space – has been completed and is already being used, but around $2 million more is needed to complete the whole ecotheraphy park.
Strong efforts are being made to encourage people to vote in support of the park’s huge Climbing Forest through the state government’s current Pick My Project initiative. There is a $200,000 application limit and that amount would just cover this key feature.
Voting is on pickmyproject.vic.gov.au
