No. 13

$24.6 MILLION INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY FACILITIES
The Stanhope Government is ensuring our community facilities are ready for the future with a $24.6 million investment over two years in the 2008-09 Budget to expand and build on community facilities across The Territory.
The Minister for Community Services, Ms Katy Gallagher MLA said that decisions to significantly expand community facilities across the Territory have been taken following extensive consultation with the ACT community through the Purdon and Associates Report – New uses for former school sites.
“An investment of $14.2 million will allow the transformation of three current sites into Regional Community Facilities (RCF) which incorporate Neighbourhood Halls,” she said.
The Regional Community Facilities will consist of:
•	An Arts Hub at Cook
•	A Health and Wellbeing Hub at Melrose
•	A Community Services Hub at Weston.

“In addition to this, $8 million will be allocated for the establishment of an additional six Neighbourhood Halls across Canberra and the refurbishment of Noah’s Ark at Rivett,” Ms Gallagher said. 
The Neighbourhood Halls will be for casual hire and will either be refurbished or newly constructed at Hall (refurbished); Tharwa (refurbished); Holt (refurbished); Cook (refurbished pre-school); Melrose (within the RCF); Weston (within the RCF); South Tuggeranong (new); Griffith (new); and Village Creek (new).
“The Stanhope Government will also allocate $2.4 million to establish eight community parks across the ACT which will comprise a range of inclusions such as play equipment for children, barbeques, paths, seating, lighting and associated green space. These parks will be located at Macarthur, Rivett, Mt Neighbour, Cook, Melrose, Weston, Holt and Village Creek.
“There is a unique opportunity to provide much needed community space as well as a range of housing options, including aged housing in established suburbs.
“The demand for aged care and supported accommodation is increasing rapidly, both nationally and in the ACT. It is desirable that aged and supported accommodation be located close to existing amenities, public transport and health facilities,” Ms. Gallagher concluded.
Statement ends

6 May 2008
Enquiries:    Angie Drake	6205 0139	0408 092 016	angie.drake@act.gov.au