Women wait as shelter sits empty
A former convent purchased by the State Government for $3.9 million so it could be used as housing for young women in need is still sitting vacant four years later.
The Government bought St Emilie's convent in Kalamunda from the Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition in 2010 and announced the Esther Foundation, which provides intensive support for young women in a safe and structured environment, would assume a peppercorn lease of the sprawling heritage site.
The foundation had planned to move from seven different houses in South Perth to the old convent, boosting its accommodation capacity by 40 per cent.
At the time, Housing Minister Bill Marmion said he expected a refurbishment of the property would be completed within 18 months. The project was awarded a $3.5 million Lotterywest grant in 2012 but has since hit several "frustrating" hurdles, according to the Esther Foundation's administrator Rodney Lavater.
He said progress on the refurbishment was dragging because the building was "pretty old and run down".
Mr Lavater was confident they would move in as soon as possible.
"We weren't aware of the asbestos remediation we'd have to do, we weren't aware of the lead abatement that we'd have to do," he said.
Shadow housing minister Fran Logan said the taxpayer-owned property sitting empty was scandalous and threw the Government's relationship with the Esther Foundation into question.
The Department of Housing's general manager of commercial and business operations, Greg Cash, said the department obtained a range of reports on the condition of the property and they were made available to the Esther Foundation before the property was purchased.
He said the refurbishment's manager, Community Housing Ltd, and the Esther Foundation had responsibility for finalising the scope of works and refurbishment of the premises.
Mr Cash said the department would meet with CHL and the Esther Foundation on September 22 to decide on the best outcome and use for the property.
'We weren't aware of the asbestos remediation or lead abatement that we'd have to do.'"Esther Foundation's *Rodney Lavater *
