William Street Youth Hub Gets Federal Funding

Media release from Bellingen Shire Council.

05 Aug 2010

Council is thrilled with the news that its application for funding of $1.942million to construct a new Youth Centre on the council owned William Street, Bellingen property has been successful.

Mayor Mark Troy said that “the Council was committed to working closely with the youth sector to address their needs because investing in young people is basically an investment in our future.”

“The wonderful efforts of the Council staff, Y2A and a number of local architectural and planning professionals in putting the grant application together are to be applauded. Special recognition should go to our Corporate Services Director, Peter Wilson who directed and guided the application team with great dedication, and also to Council’s Grants Officer, Jenny Chance who worked on the application from her new home in Western Australia, following her recent departure” he said.

Paul Tipper of Y2A said that “it is amazing what can come of so much community support! Bellingen decided it was time for its youth to be provided for, and now along with the current Youth Space, that is being developed at the Telstra site, we receive this great news.”

The new Youth Development Centre will be a “hub” for our young people, with the potential to provide employment services, vocational programs, health and counselling services and a whole range of wonderful activities.

“The new facility will comprise community meeting rooms, office accommodation, flexible training rooms, a small music room, homework rooms and outdoor recreation areas including vegetable gardens. The building will also be totally energy efficient with solar power and heating. It will be a tremendous example of sustainability in action,” said Paul. He also reiterated that “It is amazing what can come from so much positive energy from a caring community.”

The Arts, Business and Community Centres for Young Australians Initiative is funded through the Jobs Fund Program. The Jobs Fund is a $650 million Australian Government Initiative designed to maximise job and training opportunities in local communities. The Jobs Fund is a component of the Government’s Jobs and Training Compact.

As part of the Jobs Fund, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Youth announced in October 2009 funding to support the development of the Arts, Business and Community Centres for Young Australians Initiative. Funding of $10 million was made available for five Centres located in Priority Employment Areas, to support young people and communities most affected by the global economic recession.

In February this year Council submitted a business case under the Jobs Fund Program to construct a Youth Development Centre at the request of the Local Employment Coordinator. Then in March Council was informed that each of the proponents would be required to complete an application package to assist the selection of eligible applications. The application for funding package was received on 9 June 2010 with the grant application to be returned by the 7 July 2010. This meant that architectural plans had to be fast tracked to comply with the tight Departmental deadline. Council’s decision to invest $30,000 in the preparation of plans and a development application has certainly paid off for local youth !

Twenty eight applications were lodged from throughout Australia with Bellingen Shire Council and the Clarence Valley Council being successful along with two proponents in Victoria and one in Queensland.

This article can be found on the web at:

http://bellingen.local-e.nsw.gov.au/news/pages/10780.html