Conflict over Harris Centre

Residents in Ultimo and Pyrmont are angry they have been left out of the planning process for the Harris Community Centre.

The community centre run by Uniting Care is restructuring and the community who have used its space for over 30 years are frustrated over the changes.

The restructuring started with the sudden retrenchment of long-time manager Lorraine Findlay last month and continued after two further staff were cut last Friday.

Members of Ultimo Village Voice expressed concern over the shrunken role the community centre has played since the restructuring started.

“The community expressed an ownership of the Centre as it has been an integral part of the community for over 30 years, and the sudden changes made recently have shocked us, and we are still in the grieving process,” said Yimmy Seifert the Chair of Ultimo Village Voice.

Uniting Care held a meeting last Wednesday to consult the community over the future of the community centre.

The 50 community members who attended the meeting complained to Uniting Care that they had left out of the planning process.

“Lack of communication was one of the main concerns expressed,” Ms Seifert said. “Uniting Care have never told us what was going on, we only knew Lorraine had been suddenly retrenched. We didn’t know why and then we were in a communication black hole.”

“Trust has been broken and it’s going to take a long time for that to rebuild that.”

Andrew Collins, the Executive Manager of Service Development for Uniting Care, said the focus will be on the services within the centre and community consultation is crucial.

“Uniting Care Ageing Sydney Region is committed to the sustainability of the centre to ensure that it not only maintains the work that it undertakes at present but grows the services within the Ultimo Pyrmont community,” he said.

“Community consultation is vital and ongoing . . . consultation will focus on future services at the centre, what works, what we can improve and how we can grow. The aim is for the centre to be successful for the long term.”

Members of Ultimo Pyrmont community have refuted this and claimed because the centre has less permanent staff community services will be reduced.

“Despite the sentiments expressed at the meeting, obviously Uniting Care does not have any regard for the community,” Ms Seifert said.

Residents of the Ultimo Pyrmont area had campaigned to local member and Lord Mayor Clover Moore over the issue in May.

Ms Moore responded by sending a letter to Harry Herbert, the executive director of Uniting Care, seeking reassurance over the future of the centre.

Ms Moore expressed community concern over the retrenchment of ex-manager Ms Findlay and her own concern about Uniting Care’s use of government funds.

Mr Herbert’s letter in response read: “The restructure at the Harris Community Centre occurred for operational reasons and I can assure you that Uniting Care is committed to the sustainability of the centre.”

The letter said government funds would be used to foster growth in community services and aid socially disadvantaged members of the community.

Since last Wednesday’s meeting the Harris Community Centre has distributed brief consultation surveys asking residents about what they value in the centre and what could be improved.

A further community consultation will be held by Uniting Care this month.