NEWS RELEASE
14 November 2008

Newlands Community Centre opens on Monday

The much-anticipated community centre at Newlands will be blessed at a dawn ceremony tomorrow morning in preparation for its first day of business on Monday.

The Council’s Social Portfolio Leader, Councillor Ngaire Best, has been looking forward to its opening for the last few months and has been keeping a close eye on developments.

“I have been onsite several times over the last few months, and I say with certainty that the Newlands community will be thrilled with their community centre,” says Cr Best.

“We have worked hard with the Newlands community over the last few years to make sure that the centre reflects their vision for its use. What we’ve come up with is a multi-purpose facility that includes a toy library, cyber library, drop-in space, meeting rooms, performance space, an outdoor half-court and plenty of facilities for young people. We have also made sure that there is plenty of storage space for groups using the centre. It’s a great asset for the community,” she says.

Councillor Best says that it is hoped that the centre on Batchelor Street will act as a focal-point for the suburb.

The project is part of the City Council’s long-term strategy for redeveloping and improving the Newlands town centre. The Council’s Northern Growth Management Framework (2003) identified the need for a new community centre to provide services to local residents and encourage community development.

The Council allocated $1.85 million to the scheme and secured a further $500,000 from the Johnsonville Licensing (Charitable) Trust and $460,000 from the Trusts Charitable Foundation

The centre’s blessing will take place at 5.30am tomorrow morning – just as daylight starts to break. This will be followed by a breakfast in the centre at 6.30am. The centre will be open and fully operational from 9am, Monday 17 November. A more formal opening will be held next year when community groups have settled in.

ENDS

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