END OF TERM REPORT 2017/21
RYDE CENTRAL A key highlight of this Council term was progressing with the exciting redevelopment of the existing Ryde Civic Centre site into a new community and cultural hub. Known as ‘The New Heart of Ryde’, the new development was based on extensive community input and once completed will deliver a four-fold increase in community facilities. The centrepiece of the project will be a new multi-purpose and cultural building dedicated to community use. This building will feature the Edna Wilde Performance Hall, which will be able to seat up to 700 people. The multi-purpose and cultural building will also include public activity rooms, meeting rooms, function space capable of hosting art exhibitions, amenities and food premises. An additional commercial building will also be built on the site which will house Council staff as well as external tenants. Other features include a centrally located public plaza, extensive landscaping works, direct accessible pedestrian links, as well as on-site basement car spaces. Council will retain complete ownership of the site and the project will be funded without raising rates or reducing services. Crucially, the project has the overwhelming support of the community with the consultation phase identifying 85 percent were in favour of the redevelopment. Demolition works of the existing Ryde Civic Centre and Community Hall began in early 2021, with the construction of the new facilities scheduled to begin in early 2022.
CONCEPT IMAGE FOR RYDE CENTRAL 9
