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Constructing a centre of care in Kalgoorlie-Goldfields
Centrecare Kalgoorlie-Goldfields started out as a fly-in fly-out, two day per fortnight counselling service in 1989. Today it is preparing to invest several million dollars in constructing a new service centre in Egan Street, Kalgoorlie.
Centrecare’s services reach people from all walks of life and the support they provide resonates throughout the community. Their focus is to help people to develop supportive networks and resilience. In the wake of the economic downturn and sharp retraction of the mining industry, it is no surprise that communities, like those in the Kalgoorlie-Esperance region, are feeling vulnerable. As a consequence Centrecare Kalgoorlie-Goldfields has never been busier.
Since 1989 there has been a dramatic expansion of Centrecare’s services and in recent years there have been an ongoing number of requests to deliver services across the Goldfields-Esperance region from a variety of both federal and state departments. The Goldfields-Esperance agency currently operates from four sites, has 38 full time equivalent staff members and delivers 39 contracts for services through the provision of family and relationship counselling, supported accommodation, crisis intervention, transitional training and education programs and mental health support.
Whilst Centrecare’s exponential growth is a direct response to the demand for services, it has been effectively realised through long-term and strategic planning, as acknowledged by the organisation’s CEO, Tony Pietropiccolo:
“Given the rate of growth, it became evident that the agency's existing building in Dugan Street would not be able to accommodate the staff numbers required to provide the services. Consequently, planning to build a larger office began five or more years ago.”
Although the existing facility in Dugan Street served the organisation’s needs for over a decade, in 2003 Centrecare identified that the facility would be unable to meet the long term accommodation needs of its Goldfields operations. Tony Pietropiccolo discussed the process:
“In considering the requirements of the region, the growth of the services being provided and the consequent need to provide additional office space for staff, it became apparent that a new purpose built facility was required. Centrecare’s executive team had discussions with Lotterywest and other relevant stakeholders in the Goldfields to explain the need for a new facility and to ascertain whether or not there were specific considerations to be made in the design of the building.”
In February 2004, Centrecare used its consolidated revenue and took out a loan to purchase a property in Egan Street, Kalgoorlie with the primary aim of constructing a new Goldfields/Esperance service centre. In planning the development, Centrecare anticipated that the revenue raised from the sale of its Dugan Street complex could be put towards the construction of a new purpose-built facility. This facility would be capable of accommodating the anticipated growth of the organisation and of other community service organisations.
On purchasing the Egan Street property during a time of unprecedented economic growth, Centrecare saw their investment increase by almost $300,000 overnight. Whilst this was unforeseen, it was also due in part to the vigilance of Centrecare’s executive team, which identified an appropriate site close to transport networks and the site of a proposed shopping centre development. The team worked closely with a local reference committee which provided important guidance and feedback through its extensive community networks.
In planning the new facility, Centrecare continued its future-oriented planning. Discussions were held with staff to determine the nature and use of space in the proposed building. A design brief was developed to ensure the new facility would be environmentally sustainable, accommodate the demands of a growing community sector and meet the current and future needs of Centrecare’s range of services.
“During the planning phase, Centrecare actively engaged other stakeholders and potential supporters in the process. Lotterywest was kept updated throughout the process and agreed to support the construction of the new centre, the required communications infrastructure as well as equipment and furniture with a grant of $1.5 million. With further proceeds anticipated from a mixture of Centrecare’s reserves, borrowings and the sale of its Dugan Street premises, the organisation was in the position of being able to make a very substantial contribution to the land and building package,” said Tony Pietropiccolo.
Whilst strategic planning helped to bring Centrecare’s long-term goals within grasp, not all of the organisation’s plans eventuated. The Local Regional Development Authority had approved $250,000 towards the building but due to a change of government in late 2007, the funding was not realised. At the same time, and in the wake of the 2007 property boom, the economic down-turn saw property prices plummet across the region. Consequently the sale of the Dugan Street facility has been put on hold, to be revisited once real estate conditions improve. In the interim Centrecare will lease out the Dugan Street premises to offset some of the costs associated with constructing the new building.
Centrecare Kalgoorlie-Goldfields is in a strong position to be able to ride out the change in economic climate. As Tony Pietropiccolo points out:
“Having operated from several sites, the organisation is well versed in the management of properties. This experience is enhanced by the fact that a number of its services relate to the provision of housing for vulnerable groups. This has resulted in the acquisition of a high degree of property management expertise. Centrecare will have no difficulty dealing with the various issues that are likely to arise.”