By Mikayla van Loon
An extension to Mount Evelyn Community House’s management of the Station House Reading Room has been granted by Yarra Ranges Council for another five years.
While a tender process was entered into in May, only one application was received, being that from the Community House.
The council-owned Station House facility on Wray Crescent is home to the Mount Evelyn Community House, the Reading Room and social enterprise Tasty Az.
Mount Evelyn Community House has managed the Reading Room for seven years in partnership with the council and Your Library, adding to its suite of offerings.
Councillor Tim Heenan said he was extremely pleased to be awarding the contract to the Community House, as it has “been an integral part of the Station House facility, offering community development activities and programs”.
“I’ve watched the way the community house has developed. I’ve watched when, obviously, our former Eastern Regional Libraries handed over the commitment to the house to be able to run that reading room,” he said.
“I’ve watched how successful it’s been. I’ve watched the teamwork and the passion by the volunteers in there, putting on many, many different programs both through the reading room and through the community house and the cross pollination that has happened. It’s just been one great success story in the community.”
Cr Heenan said the House’s commitment to community development ticked many of the boxes when deciding to award the contract to the House again.
The integration of the community house and library space has allowed for programs across all age groups and areas of life including art, health, wellbeing and social connection, as well as having a broader impact in supporting the vulnerable from those experiencing homelessness to neurodiversity.
Having access to the various books and resources has also encouraged participation in literacy development programs for parents with young children.
Cr Fiona McAllister supported the motion as a seconder and said she remembers the discussions held eight years ago about this kind of model and integration of services.
“It’s been a great model, the integration of the reading room, neighbourhood house and of course the added benefit or blessing of having Tasty Az there as well is just wonderful,” she said.
“It’s a warm, inviting environment which is really aligned with, I would say the purpose and vision for contemporary libraries, but also communities, resilient, connected communities and you only have to drop in there, whether it’s into the library or to pop up and see Jules it’s a really safe and welcoming space.”
Recognising this as a “beautiful example” of using council spaces to their full potential and making “the right connections”, Cr McAllister said she fully supported Mount Evelyn Community House in their continued management of the Reading Room.
The tender was awarded at an annual price of $103,590 until 30 June 2029 with the ability to extend the contract for two years at the council’s discretion.
The motion was passed unanimously.
