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Construction of a second storey on the existing site would be the most likely outcome were the project to go ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be open to it \u2026 as long as it wasn\u2019t impactful on the environment or the site,\u201d Torquay Bowls Club chairperson Gary Banks said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a great announcement for the veterans of Corangamite and we\u2019ve for 10 years had RSL housed in the club with us \u2026 it\u2019s been a great relationship and we think that anything that assists the members of the RSL to have the facility they\u2019re describing is a great one.\u201d<\/p>\n
The recent Royal Commission into veteran Defence and Veteran Suicide is proof the centre is needed in the region according to Mr Neumann.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe centre will be a family-friendly space and provide peer-to-peer support for veterans and their families, bringing together critical services under one roof.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to see a facility run by veterans, for veterans, that\u2019s inclusive and easily accessible for all ex-service men and women in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n While Torquay is the preferred site, both Ms Coker and Mr Neumann acknowledge that other veterans organisations such as Geelong\u2019s RSL Sub Branch may apply to host the hub and the plan is still subject to a consultation process with other stakeholders like the state RSL executive.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to go through a process and there may be others that step up to the plate too,\u201d Ms Coker said.<\/p>\n Liberal Corangamite candidate Stephanie Asher matched the promise and $5 million funding commitment.<\/p>\n \u201cUnder this important commitment, local veterans and their families will have access to a much greater level of support they deserve closer to home,\u201d Ms Asher said.<\/p>\n As with the Labor announcement, Ms Asher said a final location for the wellbeing centre would be subject to consultation with local stakeholders.<\/p>\n A dual announcement of the proposed facility now means its future construction is almost certain regardless of who wins the May 21 election, given each major party candidate has given it the green light.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A $5 MILLION Veteran Wellbeing Centre has been promised for the Surf Coast and Geelong region should Labor or Liberal win government at the upcoming election. Proposed as a one-stop shop for veterans and their families to access a range of services such as transition, wellbeing support, advocacy, employment and housing assistance and social connection, […]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/Pool-in-article-72.png\")