Community, sports, seniors and recreational groups will benefit from upgraded local facilities as part of a funding package that will renew four neighbourhood centres across Penrith City.
A re-elected Morrison Liberal Government will invest $1.5 million towards the upgrade of four halls within the Penrith LGA which have been identified by Penrith City Council as requiring priority maintenance and renewal under the Building Asset Renewal (BAR) program.
The four halls to be upgraded are:
– Arthur Neve Memorial Hall
– St Marys Community Centre
– St Marys Senior Citizens Hall
– Floribunda Community Centre
Melissa McIntosh, Liberal Candidate for Lindsay, said the funding boost would deliver a better outcome for residents and user groups.
“Public facilities like neighbourhood centres are part of the fabric of community life and are often the home base of some hard working organisations, like Community Junction, which provide vital outreach programs for locals,” Ms McIntosh said.
“I am proud that this funding package will enable Council to go beyond a basic lick of paint and will enable a more comprehensive refurbishment and redesign of the four halls.
“Because of the Morrison Liberal Government’s strong economy management, we’re able to use the dividends of our strong economy back into important local projects such as these.”
Senator for Western Sydney Marise Payne said Council had allocated funding for basic upgrades, but federal funding would allow Council to significantly enhance, expand and expedite the works.
“Neighbourhood centres are important places for our community to come together and they should be able to do so in contemporary and accessible facilities,” Senator Payne said.
“That’s why I am pleased that our funding will enable Council to move beyond basic upgrades like repainting to complete internal redesigns.
“Our funding support will also mean that, in the case of the St Marys based centres, their construction will take place concurrently which will minimise disruption during the delivery phase.”
Mayor of Penrith City Council, Cr Ross Fowler, welcomed the announcement. “I want to thank Ms McIntosh and Senator Payne for hearing the needs of our community and working to bring this funding package together – it’s a great outcome.”
“As part of Council’s conversations with the community, improving the quality of our buildings was considered important and our asset renewal program is in place to ensure the longevity of these important community assets and reduce replacement costs in the future,” Cr Fowler said.
“Co-funding allows us to deliver better facilities for current and future users and make spaces that will be even more useful and we’ll do this in consultation with our communities.”
Catherine Bailey, a Glenmore Park resident whose family use the Floribunda Community Centre on weekly basis, said the upgrade was great news.
“A better facility will benefit not only for my littles ones, but also really help out our community, so I think it’s a really good outcome,” Ms Bailey.
Completion of the upgrades across all four are expected to be complete by 2021.
