Murray House Resource Centre Announces Closure, Shire of Murray Responds
The Shire of Murray has expressed disappointment following the announcement that the Murray House Resource Centre will cease operations on June 30. The centre, which has been serving the community since June 2000, provided essential education programs, information access, and key government services, including those from the Department of Transport.
Closure Details and Community Impact
Chairperson Christine Thompson revealed the closure on April 7, citing that the organisation's future had been under careful consideration due to complex and challenging circumstances. The accredited training arm, MHRC-RTO, is scheduled to de-register on April 30, while Department of Transport licensing services will end alongside the Pinjarra Community Resource Centre on June 30.
Thompson urged the community to continue supporting the centre during the transition period, emphasizing the need for respectful communications as staff deal with the closure. She confirmed that the Department of Transport is aware of the situation and is working to establish alternative service options.
Shire of Murray's Response and Funding Request
Shire President Douglas McLarty highlighted the importance of Murray House's services and expressed hope that the shire could continue them. The shire's CEO has written to Minister for Regional Development Stephen Dawson, requesting that funding allocated to the Murray House Committee for 2026-27 be reallocated to the Shire of Murray.
"This will ensure the shire can continue the services currently provided by Murray House and that there is no discontinuity of service," McLarty stated. "Time is of the essence here, so our council looks forward to a quick response for this reallocation so that we can set up the necessary structures."
Proposal for Licensing Services and Community Support
The council has also contacted the Department of Transport, expressing interest in taking over the licensing services currently operated from the Murray House building. They have requested enhanced services, such as driver training opportunities, to better serve the community.
"Again, we want continuity of service. If the licensing function is allocated to the Shire of Murray, we can ensure that there will be no loss of service and that regular users will not even notice any difference in service levels," McLarty added. "While Murray House has advised that it will discontinue its services, we are doing everything possible to keep the CRC and licensing services in Pinjarra permanently."
Political Support and Community Advocacy
Murray-Wellington MLA David Bolt described the pending closure as "clearly disappointing" for Pinjarra and the surrounding community. He emphasized the priority of ensuring service continuity and supported the Shire of Murray's efforts to retain funding.
"Services like those provided by Murray House meet genuine and growing community need, and it's critical that locals don't lose access because of administrative or organisational changes," Bolt said. "I believe the shire's proposal is a sensible and practical approach to maintaining those services, and I would encourage the State Government to give it serious consideration."
The council has thanked all current and past committee members and staff for their dedicated work over the past 25 years, acknowledging their positive impact on the community. As the closure date approaches, efforts continue to secure funding and maintain essential services for residents.
