New youth centre almost complete


There is a great air of excitement as work nears completion at The Youthie, the new Tamworth Regional Youth Centre, in West Tamworth.

The Youthie - in Centenary Park at Coledale - is the new home of Council's youth drop-in service along with a number of tenants including Tamworth Family Support Services and Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council.

The services are expected to move in soon and get their programs for youth up and running.

Negotiations are being finalised with a number of other agencies which are also expected to operate out of the facility.

The Youthie will open its doors tomorrow from noon to 5pm. It will operate a limited range of programs during the next few weeks until all equipment is in place including pool tables and computers.

Tamworth Regional Council Youth Services Coordinator, Steve Blanch, said there has been a strong level of interest from young people who are keen for the new centre to open.

“There have been a lot of young people and community members interested in the new facility and they are really excited by what we will have on offer,” he said.

“We look forward to opening the doors tomorrow.” 

A total of 17 organisations have formed the Tamworth Youth Centre Consortium and committed to working together to deliver services from the $2.5 million facility, the region's first purpose-built youth centre. It will be run by the Tamworth Regional Council community services team in conjunction with the consortium.

Construction of The Youthie started in March last year and is due to be completed within weeks.

Sydney-based Nicholas Associates Architects designed the building using environmentally-friendly principles and have ensured that the space is low maintenance, hardwearing and functional. It includes youth drop-in facilities incorporating an auditorium, stage and sound recording room, administration areas, consulting rooms, learning spaces, recreational areas, café and commercial kitchen and a 41- space carpark.

Completion of landscaping has been delayed slightly due to current Level 3 Water Restrictions in Tamworth city. However, with significant rainwater storage now installed, it is planned to at least lay some small areas of turf and plant a courtyard garden featuring a drought tolerant bush tucker garden.

The Youthie is a major element of the NOW Initiative, a community renewal project funded through a $10.68 million Australian Government grant to Tamworth Regional Council under the Building Better Regional Cities Program.

The NOW Initiative involves a range of improvements to the streetscape, roads and built environment of Coledale and the creation of 58 new blocks for affordable housing along with the new regional youth centre.

An official opening for the facility will be held on April 10.

For more information visit Tamworth Regional Council