From: Gerringong Community Action Group for Youth

There’s been no mention of funding for youth facilities and programs in the upcoming Kiama By-Election, other than funds to upgrade existing sporting facilities. Is this because youth doesn’t have a vote?

The Liberal Party’s Kiama candidate, Serena Copley, is pledging $26M for the Kiama Sporting Complex, funding the first stage of Council’s draft masterplan to upgrade its sporting facilities.

The Kiama Mayor, Cameron McDonald, is requesting $110 to $150 million dollars to upgrade the Kiama Sports Complex and its sporting facilities.

On Monday morning Serena Copley announced a pledge of $200,000 to upgrade the lighting at Cronin’s Oval in Gerringong. Labor candidate, Katelin McInerney, has announced that the State Government will provide $200,000 to establish a special night entertainment precinct in Kiama, and $3M to fix potholes and repair roads.

Labor’s “plan for our community” leaflet identifies one item, Number 30, on their map for Gerringong.

It states: “Gerringong Golf Club: New facilities are being provided for golfers.”

Funding is concentrated in Kiama itself and does not appear to flow to other populated town centres outside of Kiama.

Gerringong/Gerroa has a population of over 5,300 people with more than 600 under the age of 18.

There are a number of sporting fields for young people to participate in traditional sporting activities.

There are a number of community facilities located in Gerringong including the Surf Life Saving Club, the Library, the Museum, the Bowling club, and the Gerringong Town Hall. However, these facilities are not designed, or suitable, for recreational activities and programs for young people.

Margaret Lester, Chairperson of the Gerringong Community Action Group, said there is a need for a designated Youth Centre in Gerringong.

The South Werri Beach Reserve would be a suitable location, near the Surf Life Saving Club, the Bowling Club, the tennis courts, the basketball court, and the Skate Park. The proximity to the beach would make a youth centre very attractive to young people.

Kiama’s current Draft Masterplan for the South Werri Reserve proposes the redevelopment of the Reserve with wetlands, walking pathways, tree plantings and picnic areas for visitors.

The Draft Masterplan has not identified the opportunity, or the need, to earmark space for a Youth Centre for Gerringong. Margaret Lester stated that many young people experience difficulties in making the transition from childhood to adulthood during their teenage years.

Not all young people, or their parents, enjoy competitive or contact sports.

Youth centres around Australia and overseas are being designed by architects specifically to meet the needs of young people.

Youth centres are designed to cater for recreational and creative activities and programs for the general youth population without stigmatising young people’s participation. Youth Centres have been established in local communities and are primarily funded by local and State Governments.

Currently the process of designing and constructing new youth facilities is very much concerned with involving as many young people as possible - high school students, school leavers and youth workers, determining the colours and materials to be used in the building and the activities to be provided.

The process is important, not only to gain the best outcome that will attract participation but also to foster ownership by local youth.

Youth centres today are designed for multipurpose use, catering for small and large groups as well as for individuals.

Youth centre designs have separate spaces for recreation and rooms for creative arts, music, computers, and even a climbing wall, outdoor spaces for BBQs, fresh air, sunshine and a small vegetable garden to accompany the kitchen for cooking skills and healthy eating.

Given there are no designated Community Centres or Neighbourhood Centres in Gerringong it would be advantageous to utilise the proposed youth centre for other community groups and adult use, when not in use for youth, such as when young people are at school or at work or studying.

After researching architectural designs for youth centres a concept design has been proposed.

A floor plan showing what could be provided for young people attending a Gerringong Youth Centre has been attached to this paper.

A Community Action Group for Youth has been established in Gerringong to inform the community and government bodies of the need to plan ahead for a designated youth centre for the growing population of Gerringong.

Kiama Council has recently approved a land release for housing on the western side of Elambra Estate. In 5 years’ time, Gerringong/Gerroa’s population could be as high as 7000 people.

Margaret said that the group is determined to take this issue to the next State and Federal elections.