Yamba residents fight to save community centre

By TIM HOWARD

A Yamba residents group has raised a petition seeking to save the Treelands Dr Community Centre from demolition.

The Yamba Community Action Network is gathering signatures on the petition to take to the Clarence Valley Council’s first meeting for 2023 on February 28.

The petition reads: We, the undersigned, request the Mayor and Councillors of Clarence Valley ensure:

1. The expansion of the existing TDCC to at least include a library, commercial kitchen, and carpark.

2. Council undertakes community consultation for Option B inviting residents to group gatherings and exhibitions.

3. Residents’ suggestions for the expansion are fully considered in consultation with residents.

The council appeared to have changed its mind on saving the centre a few weeks ago when it learned the State Government would not allow the council to switch an $11.5 million Bushfire Local Economic Recovery grant from the Treelands Dr Community Centre project to help pay for the Grafton Aquatic Centre project.

Clarence Valley Mayor Ian Tiley said once the government put a stop to the switch, the council needed to go with the council’s original option to demolish the hall and replace it with an expanded centre including a library at a cost of around $15 million.

“There is no way the council should countenance losing a $11.1 million grant,” Cr Tiley said.

Yamba CAN has also called a community meeting for Tuesday, February 21 February at 6.30pm at the Wooli St Hall Yamba

Mrs Cairns said Yamba CAN will be providing an outline of achievements since its inception on September 28, 2022.

“Those attending will be able to voice their suggestions about what they would like Yamba CAN to focus on,” Mrs Cairns said.

She said a short video would provide updates on a number of matters.

The proposal, that originally included the sale of the Wooli St Hall, next to the current library, annoyed many in the community.

They said the proposed Treelands Dr Community Centre was a “Taj Mahal” and it was a waste of money to knock down a relatively modern building and build another.

Group secretary Lynne Cairns said Yamba