Devonport Mental Health Hub site secured, as mental health budget gets a boost

The preferred location for the new, purpose-built mental health hub in Devonport has been announced ahead of the upcoming 2025-26 Budget.

Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Roger Jaensch, said the Government intends for the $7.6 million facility to be built at 6-10 Steele Street Devonport.

“The planned facility will include a number of new mental health services for the North West community, including a Safe Haven, Recovery College, and Integration Hub, modelled on the services successfully delivered at the Peacock Centre in the South,” Minister Jaensch said.

“The Devonport Mental Health Hub provides a welcome boost to community mental health resources in the region, providing different levels of support, from crisis services through to recovery and education, for people experiencing mental ill health and their families and friends.”

The new facility is part of $190 million in capital investment for mental health facilities over four years.

This is in addition to an almost $44 million in increased spending for mental health services over the next four years, which will be laid out in this year’s Budget.

“The Hub delivers on a key part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, which is building a better Tasmania: now, and for the future,” Minister Jaensch said.

“Our Government acknowledges mental ill-health can affect anyone, at any age, and the demand for access to mental health services has grown.
“Increasing access to services and broadening focus to find long-term solutions is a priority for the Government, as we focus on the things that matter to Tasmanians.”

The facility will be developed and operated in partnership with the broader mental health sector.

Planning for the new Hub is well underway. Specialist mental health staff are working with Fairbrother’s health planners and architects to develop models of care, a functional design brief and concept designs.

The development agreement and agreement for lease are subject to further processes and all parties are working in good faith with the development expected to begin in the second half of 2025, with the plan to open the Hub in late 2027.

This site has recently been sold by Devonport City Council to Fairbrother and is being developed by Fairbrother.