GREENBUSHES residents have been invited to attend the official opening of two new community facilities in August which are the result of an investment of considerable funding and community volunteer effort.
Regional Development Minister Terry Redman will officially open the Greenbushes Community Resource Centre’s $270,000 multi-purpose extension and the refurbished $80,000 Thomson Park Playground on Friday August 22.
The Greenbushes CRC extension was funded by the Department of Regional Development through the Royalties for Regions programme.
The project included construction of a multi-purpose room which can be used for training workshops and community activities including youth events.
The project also included installation of toilets suitable for people with disabilities, a new allied health professionals room and kitchen facilities.
Greenbushes Community Resource Centre Coordinator Fran Bullock said the interior of the existing historic building had been modified to accommodate a new reception area, larger training space and larger library.
‘With the new stand-alone facility and the changes inside the existing building we believe we can offer more services for the community particularly in the area of training, workshops and youth outreach,” Ms Bullock said.
The equipment for the interior of the new training facility has been funded by a $42,000 Lotterywest Grant.
Lotterywest funding of $53,000 was also granted for the $80,000 Thomson Park Playground upgrade at Greenbushes which saw the installation of modern new play equipment, gazebo, barbecue, picnic seating, fountain, reticulation and turf.
The remainder of the funding for the Thomson Park project was provided through a Shire of Bridgetown Greenbushes Grant allocation through the Royalties for Regions Programme of $23,000 with support from Talison Lithium and Greenbushes Ratepayers and Residents Association.
Greenbushes Ratepayers and Residents Association Vice President Pat Scallan said the Thomson Park project had come about through strong community involvement led by local mothers Kirrylie Bacci, Danielle Oliver and Tracy Lansdell.
The young mothers approached the Greenbushes Ratepayers and Residents Association to get the project off the ground and researched play equipment suitable for the park.
“The community is grateful for the support shown by the Shire of Bridgetown Greenbushes in following through and obtaining funding to bring this project to fruition,” said Mr Scallan.
“We are looking forward to joining with the Greenbushes Community Resource Centre and our community members in August to celebrate the successful completion of these two important projects for our district,” he said.