Photo caption: Cobar Shire Council General Manager Peter Vlatko, Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton, Cobar Youth and Community Centre Manager Brytt Moore, architect Ashley Dunn, NSW Member of the Legislative Council Sam Farraway and Cobar Shire Council Project Coordinator Carly Hunter officially opened the Cobar Youth and Community Centre today.
The Youth and Community Centre in Cobar has been significantly upgraded, giving locals a place to gather, socialise and stay healthy thanks to $2.1 million in joint funding from the NSW and Australian Governments.
NSW Member of the Legislative Council Sam Farraway said total funding of $1.79 million through Rounds Two and Three of the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund and Round Eight of the Resources for Regions program will allow for significant upgrades to the facility.
“This is a great win for the Cobar community, the upgraded centre will feature a new gym, two squash courts, and mixed-use community rooms,” Mr Farraway said.
“The upgraded centre will offer something for everyone, expanding on the service offerings of the former facility, and providing a safe place for children to play and be supervised while adults partake in sport and meet new people.”
Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said $304,371 in funding through the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program was used to install a lift to enable the upstairs area to be utilised as a gym.
“Without a lift, the upstairs section of the building was not going to be available to the public, so this funding has enabled the gym to be re-located to the second floor,” Mr Coulton said.
“It has also provided access to the multi-purpose community room upstairs, as well as the scoring and viewing area above the squash courts. It’s so important that the entire community can access these facilities, and I’m pleased the former Coalition Government was able to contribute to this fantastic project.
“The LRCI program is providing a vital boost for local councils, backing local jobs and economic growth while delivering important projects like this one that will serve the community for years to come.”
Cobar Shire Council Mayor Peter Abbott said that whilst the project suffered delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the wait was well and truly worth it.
“Cobar now has a brilliant centre, and the inclusion of a lift has set a new benchmark for the town,” Cr Abbott said.
“The facility now becomes the centrepiece of a stunning recreation complex in Drummond Park which is used by a large number of families each weekend.”
NSW National party candidate for Barwon, Annette Turner said the Nationals in Government are committed to making a real difference to the lives of young people right across the State.
“The Nationals in Government are committed to supporting regional communities by investing in great infrastructure and community projects like the Cobar Youth and Community Centre, which make our regions an even better place to live, work and play,” Mrs Turner said.
Since its inception in 2012, Rounds One through to Eight of the Resources for Regions program have delivered 242 projects worth $420 million to mining communities, supporting regional mining towns that supply our state with these precious resources.
Since 2017, more than 2,000 Stronger Country Communities Fund projects have been delivered across four rounds, with work commencing or underway in every regional NSW Local Government Area across the state.
Resources for Regions and the Stronger Country Communities Fund are part of the $3.3 billion Regional Growth Fund, designed to support growing regional centres, activate local economies and improve services and community infrastructure for regional communities.
The Australian Government’s $3 billion Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program supports local councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects across Australia, supporting jobs and the resilience of local economies to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.
