The decrepit Griffith Community Centre building will be given a spectacular phoenix rebirth when it reopens as a state-of-the-art youth and community centre on Olympic Street.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
There was much celebration on Wednesday when it was announced that the new community centre would be funded by the NSW government to the tune of $3.65 million.
The news came to the delight of Griffith Community Centre manager Barbara Penninga, who has been pushing for a new community centre for nearly 10 years.
The ramshackle old building has been slowly sinking into the ground over the years, but when the brand new building reopens on Olympic Street it will be unrecognisable.
The new building will have a lush grassy covering and boast shiny new meeting rooms, kitchen, a performance space, sunken amphitheatre, storage, and car parking.
The location is smack-dab in the middle of everywhere, right next to the skate park, PCYC, pool, Woolworths, and Banna Avenue.
If all goes to plan it will become the next central hub for the community.
Ms Penninga said she was over the moon to see this day had finally come, and that it had been a big team effort.
“We were so grateful to have council coming on board; we all worked together as a team and it was a group achievement,” she said.
RELATED:
Griffith City Council mayor John Dal Broi had been pushing hard to secure the funding, but even he was surprised at just how much money had come through.
“We thought we’d get 50 per cent of the funding, or 75 per cent at most, but to get the whole lot is just beautiful,” Cr Dal Broi said.
Cr Dal Broi said council had been enthusiastically backing the project from day one, and that everyone was ecstatic to see the plan gradually come to fruition.
“Council didn’t hesitate when the request came, we’re happy to support the establishment of a community centre in this great location.”
The funding was announced on Wednesday by Member for Murray Austin Evans, who said he was confident that it would be money well spent.
“This government will back excellent local youth programs that make a difference and I am confident this venture will benefit the entire Griffith community,” Mr Evans said.
“By funding this project we are sending a clear message that the services the community expect and deserve, we will deliver and they are here to stay.”
Funding for the centre comes from the NSW government’s Regional Communities Development Fund, which was set up to grow regional centres.
***
While you're with us, did you know that you can now receive updates straight to your inbox every Monday at 6am from The Area News? To make sure you're up to date with all the Griffith and MIA news you can sign up here.
Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
