Land donated for health, wellbeing hub in Ocean Grove

A GENEROUS donation of land in Ocean Grove has fast-tracked the development of a health and wellbeing hub for the area.

The Kingston Ocean Grove estate, owned by the Corless family, has gifted Bellarine Community Health (BCH) a 3,000sqm parcel of land in Goodwell Drive.

This transfer will allow BCH to establish a new facility, which will be aimed largely at young families in the estate and surrounds.

“We are so grateful to Kingston Ocean Grove and the Corless family for gifting this land parcel, which is integral to our plans to further support the health and wellbeing of our local communities,” BCH chief executive officer Garry Ellis said.

“Ocean Grove is a growth corridor with a high proportion of young families moving into the area so the hub will have a focus on child and youth services.

“We have already established a headspace service in Ocean Grove so this hub will enhance the services we can provide for young people in our community.”

BCH has $4 million in funding from the federal government through the Department of Health’s Community Health and Hospitals program to develop stage 1 of the hub.

The primary health services provider has already run community engagement about the need for such a hub in the area, but development on the project has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Now we have a location, we are delighted that we can move forward with progressing this development for the community,” Mr Ellis said.

Kingston Ocean Grove managing director Jason Corless said his father Ed had a vision of contributing to public health outcomes by gifting a parcel of land from the estate.

“The Corless family, along with Ed’s wife, Win, are proud to be able to honour his vision.

“We are pleased to give back to the community where we have planted our roots.

“It brings us great joy to donate this land on behalf of Kingston Ocean Grove to Bellarine Community Health.

“This new facility will provide a resource for locals to get access to quality healthcare.

“By investing in the well-being of our community, we can create a more connected, caring, and supportive environment where everyone can thrive.”