Vinnies announces new integrated precinct in Glenorchy

The St Vincent De Paul Society (Vinnies) is excited to announce the development of a new modern facility that will bring together a number of existing areas of activity currently operating in southern Tasmania, while also preparing to deliver better service to the northern suburbs community.

Vinnies has acquired a warehouse next to its Tas Textiles factory in Mill Lane Glenorchy which, with renovations, will become a centre for their southern operations and unlock opportunities for future growth.

Vinnies Chief Executive Officer Heather Kent said the Mill Lane Precinct has been designed as a state-wide Vinnies resource which will include factory and workshop spaces, storage, kitchen facilities, contemporary offices and meeting places for visiting members and staff from across Tasmania. Most importantly, this will be a new base for delivery of emergency assistance to those in nearby areas.

“The Mill Lane Precinct will provide a central and accessible location for a new emergency relief hub, including a food pantry, which will assist members when delivering much needed support and assistance to those in need throughout Hobart’s northern suburbs and beyond,” Ms Kent said.

“The precinct will also include a new Loui’s Van Kitchen with one of the Loui’s Vans to be permanently based at the site as well as becoming the new location for the Southern Regional Office.”

The Mill Lane Precinct will also house the supported worker employment enterprises St Vincent Industries and Tas Textiles which will promote greater interactions across team members through the use of shared spaces and resources. This location also delivers efficiencies through the purposefully designed fit-out of these factory workshop areas.

The existing Tas Textiles factory area will become home to the new Vinnies Glenorchy Retail store, providing better parking options for customers and a stronger street presence.

“With most of the staff from the existing Southern Regional Office in Argyle St relocating to The Mill Lane Precinct with other Vinnies activities, we will have a more integrated organisation with multiple benefits including greater collaboration, energy saving and a shared culture of one organisation serving the needs of the community,” Ms Kent said.

“The precinct will provide further growth opportunities for the wider needs of Vinnies’ Good Works across the state as well as providing the opportunity to develop our Argyle St site.

“Our supported workers at Tas Textiles and St Vincent Industries who will be impacted by these changes will be kept closely informed of progress as the project evolves.”

Construction will commence after GCC planning approval and if construction progresses to current timeframes Vinnies hopes to commence moving from April next year.

Vinnies is currently working with State and Federal governments in its aim to see its Argyle St property developed into a social housing complex, with emergency relief still provided as part of that redevelopment.