Hilltops Council is calling for community involvement in the development of the Cultural, Community and Education Precinct in Young.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After acknowledging the favoured location in Carrington Park has some major opposition from Young residents, mayor Brian Ingram wants locals to join the Project Steering Committee.
"The Steering Committee will build on the work already being done to ensure residents across the LGA are widely consulted during the planning process of the precinct," he said.
“We are very aware of how important this project is to the community; we’ve maintained a constant dialogue with stakeholders and the public and now we’re asking members of the public to work directly with councillors and council staff to guide the design and planning going forward.”
Mayor Ingram said the immediate focus for the project was to secure funding resources.
“At the moment, Council is continuing to explore one possibility that involves collaborating with Schools Infrastructure NSW (SINSW) to potentially build a joint-use library with Young High School, which would form part of the overall precinct facility,” he said.
“We’re fully aware of the concerns some members of the community have about building the library at Carrington Park. I want to assure everyone that we hear you loud and clear and that these are all issues that we’re taking into account and addressing as part of the preliminary site analysis.
“Like everyone, we want to make sure that there’s minimal loss of green space, that we maximise the heritage features of the area and we want to make sure that there’s plenty of parking and appropriate accessibility for all generations.
Young Historical Society Vice President Marilyn Stemm said locals are not against the education precinct and want to see it built.
“It is simply the choice of Carrington Park as the proposed site that residents oppose,” she said.
But Country Universities Centre – Hilltops Chair Sue Gordon said it was a shame that the “visionary” new library and education precinct is causing such division in the community.
“The education precinct proposed by Council will be great and will serve the community well into the future,” she said.
“Having a centre for the use of those studying higher education just adds to its greatness and provides an opportunity for those that cannot leave town to further their education, an opportunity that may not otherwise be possible. The elected council is in the best position to decide where the precinct might be located – Let us, let them, get on with it.”
Expressions of interest to join the Community Project Steering Committee can be sent to mail@hilltops.nsw.gov.au or via post, Attn: General Manager, 189-205 Boorowa Street, Young NSW 2594 by Friday 23rd February.