Newtown Community Centre set to open at celebratory event

Published: 18 September 2019

Councillors have been given a behind-the-scenes tour of a new community centre.

Council Leader Phil Bialyk and Cllr David Harvey, Lead Councillor for Environment and City Management, were shown around the new community centre in Belmont Park.

The new facility, which is managed by the Newtown Community Association, has been financially supported by the City Council. It is set to be officially opened on Saturday (21 September) at a family event to celebrate the occasion.

The new building replaces the old hut which dated back to the Second World War and had been used as a community space for 30 years.

With much larger and more flexible space, the new facility features up-to-date kitchen and toilet facilities and better access for all users.

Echoes of the old hut have remained in the timber frame construction, with timber cladding. More importantly, the new building is much more energy efficient, combining high levels of air tightness and insulation with solar energy panels and up-to-date heating.

The building will be used by local community groups, including the Newtown Community Choir and Newtown Roots Band, the regular social café and Quigong groups.

Saturday’s event, which runs from 11am until 3pm, will showcase various activities that regularly take place in the centre. There will be taster sessions from many groups, including performances from the Newtown Roots Band and Newtown Choir.

Open to all, involvement with the Roots Band will require people to bring along their acoustic instruments. There will also be a craft workshop with Magic Carpet (arts for health) making things for the end of day procession in the park.

Showcasing the centre’s activities will include a photographic history and information about how rooms can be booked for future events and activities.

Refreshments will be available from the famous NCA café