SINGAPORE: A plan has now been filed to upgrade a youth centre to be the best in the world.
The youth centre in Alice Springs is set to become “one of the best” in the country once a $20 million upgrade is complete, as management targets an important construction milestone.
Plans have been filed by the Gap Youth and Community Centre Aboriginal Corporation for a massive upgrade of the Alice Springs Gap Rd youth centre.
The plans, which opened to public consultation on March 13, show the centre receiving a significant facelift with all new purpose designed buildings.
Corporation chief executive Leon Tripp said $20 million had been budgeted for the upgrades, with construction potentially starting as early as July – pending building approval and tenders being awarded.
“It will be the first purpose built youth centre in the Northern Territory and it will also be one of the best youth centres,” he said.
“I think you could fairly safely say it’ll be one of the best youth centres across the nation.”
Pending everything going to plan, Mr Tripp said they were aiming for construction to be finished and the centre reopened in 2027 – the same year the youth centre turns 50.
“So it’s quite important that we actually get to open the doors in 2027,” he said.
The filed plans state the existing buildings on the block will be levelled to make way for the new two storey buildings.
There area also plans to consolidate the site’s two blocks into one for the build.
The build features a new community workshop space, alongside upgrading the existing basketball court and creating a new drop off and pick up zone.
“Each activity and user group using the site has been provided with their own entry sequence, and the buildings associated with each use are distinct, increasing site legibility,” the plans state.
During construction, Mr Tripp said the youth centre would continue to operate and deliver its usual programs from a temporary headquarters at 55A Gap Rd.
“So that’s seven days a week for the drop in service from 3.30 till 9.30 every day,” he said.
“We’ll be operating our reconnect program, and school holiday activities and all the usual stuff from those premises.”
The corporation running the youth centre was a not-for-profit with funding for the build provided by the federal government, Mr Tripp said.
Community consultation on the proposal closes March 27.