Clarence Valley Council votes in support of Townsend Collective community hub project

Clarence council has backed ambitious plans for a new town community hub including a preschool, cafe, Men’s Shed extension and recreational space, among other drawcards. Here’s the latest.

Inspiration for the Townsend Collective. Picture: Clarence Valley Council

Clarence Valley Council is backing a push to transform an empty lot, a “block of dirt”, into a new community centre including a preschool and bush cafe.

Council previously purchased a 5.67 hectare patch of land bordered by Jubilee St, Cypress St and Pine Ave, Townsend.

The plan is to transform this area into “an inclusive community space”, according to council documents,

Councillor William Day praised the masterplan at the latest council meeting.

The proposed location of the Townsend Collective (outlined in red).

He said it would help cater for the expansion of Townsend and the need for sports and recreation in the area.

Cr Day said there has been “a lot of interest in this project” and the concept plan was “wonderful”.

He said the Maclean, Gulmarrad, Townsend areas have been “a little forgotten”.

Councillor Debrah Novak agreed and also described the plans as “wonderful”.

She said the community has been “wondering whatever is going to happen to this block of dirt” and it was “fantastic to actually finally see a plan on the table”.

Cr Novak said the project would “put Townsend and Gulmarrad on the map as a family destination to come and live, work and play”.

Inspiration for the Townsend Collective. Picture: Clarence Valley Council.

If all goes ahead as planned, the project would include a youth building, recreational space, a sporting precinct, cultural hub, community preschool, bushfood cafe and an extension of the existing Men’s Shed.

The hub would centre around what council planners have called “The Collective Core”.

It would act as “the central spine” of the collective and include open space, a garden and central amphitheatre, according to the documents.

The council voted unanimously to place the proposal on public exhibition until November 23.