Community Hub

A vibrant, bold and innovative opportunity for Tasmania

Oak Tasmania is working to transform an under-utilised commercial space into a cutting edge community hub. Our vision is to create a focal point for strong partnerships and projects between the community, arts, health, education and disability organisations.

The community hub precinct will provide office space, back office support and the shared use of equipment and other infrastructure. The site will be given a new lease of life as an example of what can happen when services work with goodwill and partnership to achieve positive outcomes for people with disability. The whole precinct will be an example of the successful conversion of a 'corporate' space to a 'community' space.

Rarely does a site in excess of 8,000sqm come onto the market that has such a visible location and appeal as does the Aurora Energy building at 177 Main Road, Moonah. The opportunity to create a community presence, in buildings that require little additional work, is a rare find that will be of lasting benefit. The site has limited appeal to a developer, other than as a vacant block, yet the opportunity for community groups is immense.

The proposal can be simply put:

• The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) currently funds 229 organisations through 443 Funding Agreements.
• The Department is of the view that many of the agencies are likely to have small to medium staffing levels and operate 'niche' programs. They further expect that there is a degree of duplication and inefficiency in maintaining infrastructure for many of these organisations.
• The KPMG review of disability services noted that 'agencies operating with limited staffing may face capacity issues when addressing DHHS administrative requirements'.... 'many agencies' viability may be vulnerable as service models and administrative processes evolve..'
• There is a need for reasonably priced, secure accommodation, combined with access to essential physical resources such as photocopying, data projectors, electronic whiteboards, and back office support such as accounting, payroll, HR, IR, QA, and marketing support. Access to meeting rooms and car parking would also be offered.

• There is an opportunity to create an innovative, vibrant space that meets a community demand.
• Businesses that support the Community Hub concept reflect an integrated understanding of business performance in which social, environmental and economic bottom lines are interdependent. The aim of a Triple Bottom Line approach is to ensure business performance that is socially responsible, environmentally sound and economically viable.

A Community Hub is a new and innovative way of operating. The concept will transform the Moonah site and bring energy and excitement to what is currently an under-utilised asset.

Expressions of interest are invited from organisations who would like to partner with us to make the Community Hub a reality. Oak Tasmania also welcomes interest from all levels of government; corporate entities, foundations and philanthropists who have a particular interest in supporting the disability; youth; arts & ICT sectors.

Please take the time to find out more by reading the Community Hub Prospectus. Expressions of interest can be directed to Oak Tasmania's CEO John Paton on
(03) 6272 8244.

Download a copy of the Community Hub Prospectus here (2MB PDF)