Hobsons Bay’s community wellbeing director Peter Hunt told last week’s council meeting a working group had been formed to find alternative accomodation for the park’s residents.
“A few weeks ago, council facilitated a discussion with the owners, Department of Health and Human Services, some housing providers, Salvation Army and a number of other service providers … to talk about how these – I think there’s 73 residents in the caravan park at the moment – how that group could facilitate their departure to alternative accommodation,” he said.
“It’s hoped that before the closure that all of those residents can be resettled.
“I understand there’s some that have been there up to 17/18 years.”
Cohealth chief executive Lyn Morgain, whose organisation operates outreach community health clinics at the park, said its imminent closure raised concerns about where people seeking low-cost crisis accommodation would go in future.
“Half Moon was not perfect, but it has been home for some of our most vulnerable and in future we need to make sure that not just the current residents that are supported into new homes and communities, but that more accommodation options are available in the months to come.
“Any closure of low-cost, short-term accommodation options is a concern for Melbourne’s West.
“There are currently very few options available so it means fewer places for people on low incomes needing crisis accommodation – people like mums and their kids fleeing family violence.”
The park declined to comment, but is in discussions to redevelop the land for industrial purposes.
