The Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester MP and Loy Yang B Power Station – Alinta Energy Australia General Manager, Tony Hicks, marked the formal sod turning for the Hope Restart Centre (HRC) being built in Gippsland. HRC Chair, Peter Down, and State Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull MP and many others attended.
Darren Chester stated, “The Hope Restart Centre will change lives and it will save lives by helping Gippsland and Latrobe Valley residents recover from addictions. One of the proudest moments in my time as a local MP was securing $3 million to support the local community campaign for this drug and alcohol rehabilitation service, which will be managed by Odyssey House.
The facility is now a step closer to construction with the official sod turning on site today. Whether we like it or not, addictions can afflict people from all walks of life and the lack of services in our region has meant there’s often been tragic consequences. All credit to the local community leaders, who established a working committee, lobbied for funding, secured philanthropic grants and led a fundraising effort to get this project underway. The centre will include 29 double rooms, courtyards, group-training rooms, a recreation and dining room. The project is supporting local jobs with Brooker Builders winning the construction contract and there will be ongoing health service jobs at the new centre. Well done to everyone involved.”
The Hope Restart Centre will change lives and it will save lives by helping Gippsland and Latrobe Valley residents recover from addictions.
Tony Hicks advised “Loy Yang B – Alinta Energy is announcing a $500k support package for the project over three years which will see a solar power system installed and operational funding for some additional beds. This will save HRC and Odyssey House significantly in years to come. The Agreement between Loy Yang B – Alinta Energy and Hope Restart Centre demonstrates our desire to be a good corporate citizen in Gippsland and the objectives of this project line up very closely with our own. We have experienced the difficulties and effects of drug dependence on our workforce and recognised the need to support the facility the minute HRC Board Member Ricky Ross raised it with us some three months ago.
Odyssey House would like to thank the many donors who have made this possible, especially the Peter & Lyndy White Foundation.