Centre to help shape new community at Caloundra South

The emerging locality of Baringa will soon feel even more like home for its new residents.

Construction of a community centre at the Caloundra South suburb is now well underway and is expected to be completed in late 2018.

The centre is part of a community hub that will provide a range of facilities for the growing community to meet and build community connections.

Mayor Mark Jamieson, Division 1 Councillor Rick Baberowski and Stockland representatives to tour the site today, said the centre represented an important development for the Baringa area.

“The new community centre was designed and funded in collaboration with developers Stockland to accommodate residential population growth and support the social needs of this burgeoning community,” Mayor Jamieson said.

“Its development is part of the Community Hub Pilot Project in Baringa, which was established by the State Government in partnership with council and Stockland to promote the shared use of state and local government assets and resources.

“The early delivery of the community spaces will allow the new community to meet and gather, establish some strong foundations and create a sense of community.

“The community hub is well advanced with the completion of the new Baringa State Primary School, multi-purpose hall and sports ground.

“The hub will be complemented by an adjacent town square and recreation park which is currently under construction and nearing completion.”

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said the early delivery of the community hub facilities in Aura by Stockland and council was to be commended.

“The Community Hubs and Partnerships (CHaPs) team within the Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning facilitated the co-design of the education, sporting and community facilities over the last two years,” Mr Dick said.

“By bringing together Sunshine Coast Council, the Department of Education and Stockland, a very beneficial outcome has been reached for the Aura community at a very early stage of the development.

“This hub is the result of the proactive partnership approach CHaPs is championing for government agencies and stakeholders.

“Everyone on the same page means timely delivery of infrastructure, and better social and economic outcomes for the community.”

Cr Baberowski said the establishment of the Baringa Community Centre would ensure that there was an accessible network of social infrastructure for existing and emerging communities, which is a critical element of council’s Environment and Liveability Strategy.

“The Baringa Community Hub Pilot Project is a good demonstration how a collaborative and partnership approach can enable fast tracked access to a wider choice of community meeting and activity spaces,” Cr Baberowski.

“Ensuring that there is an accessible network of social infrastructure for existing and emerging communities is critical to the liveability element of the strategy’s vision.

“The Baringa Community Hub Pilot Project is a good demonstration of a collaborative and partnership approach which enables access to a network of community meeting and activity spaces.

“The emerging community of Baringa and surrounding communities will have access to the community centre, the school multipurpose hall, robotics and engineering space and music space..

“This facility will also service the needs of the existing suburbs of Bellvista, Bells Reach and Little Mountain.”

Stockland Queensland General Manager, David Laner, attended to inspect the site and celebrate this important milestone for the Baringa Community Hub Pilot Program.

“This program shows that when state and local government and the private sector collaborate to build communities we can create fantastic local outcomes for residents,” Mr Laner said.

“The Hub is situated at the middle of Baringa and will become the heart and soul of this growing community, leveraging off the adjacent school, town square and parkland, sport and recreation facilities, shopping centre and child care.

“We’re delighted to be a part of this program and thank both the Sunshine Coast Council and the State Government for their partnership, foresight and innovation to plan and deliver this innovative faciltity – a first for Queensland”, Mr Laner said.

About the community centre building

• The new community centre will create the heart of the community where gatherings, meetings and events can be held, as well as providing a place for the community to meet and enjoy the many and varied spaces provided in the adjacent town square, youth plaza and park areas.
• The new community centre will include three multi-purpose rooms, play group art space, range of office space, meeting room, a kitchen as well as a reception area, covered entry and foyer area.  It will also include outdoor activity spaces.
• The building has been designed to achieve best practice environmentally sustainable outcomes through natural ventilation as well as solar power and rainwater collection and re-use.