Yamba Community Precinct: Clarence Valley Council backs demolishment of existing Treelands Drive Community Centre

Yamba’s new multimillion-dollar community precinct is a step closer to reality – despite wrangling over funding. See what the hub will look like in new pictures and video.

A controversial Clarence community precinct is one step closer to becoming reality on the back of fierce debate about how council should fund the project.

Clarence Valley Council will soon demolish the existing 22-year-old Yamba Treelands Drive Community Precinct (TDCP) and replace it with the new Yamba Community Precinct.

The council described the new precinct as a “modern, spacious cultural and educational hub” in a statement.

It’s planned to integrate with the TAFE NSW Connect Learning Centre and Yamba Community Health.

An artist impression of the proposed new Yamba Community Precinct.

But the road to building the new community hub has been far from smooth sailing.

The precinct is mostly funded by a grant of more than $11 million under the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery (BLER) program, co-funded by the NSW and federal governments.

The central bone of contention at March’s council meeting was whether program money could be spent only on the precinct, or also used to expand – and avoid the sale of – a council property at 45 Wooli St, Yamba.

Councillor Karen Toms

Deputy Mayor Greg Clancy

Councillor Karen Toms said the grant money was designated toward the new hub and could not be used otherwise.

“The information is very clear that we can’t use it for any other project than what went in there with the BLER funding application,” she said.

Ms Toms backed a recommendation to use the money for the hub “because there is no way in the world I can support $11.1 million being returned to the government.”

Deputy Mayor Greg Clancy said while he was “not suggesting we give the money back”, there should be further exploration about whether an expansion of the Wooli St property could also be funded.

What the new hub could look like.

Ultimately, most councillors supported Ms Toms’ motion to construct the Yamba Community Precinct while retaining ownership of Wooli St Hall.

Now, more details have emerged about the hub due to feature a new art space, youth space, outdoor communal areas and extra public parking.

There are plans for eight meeting spaces.

The hub is set to include eight meeting spaces and a new library twice the size of the current facility.

Council plans to award the contract to a successful tenderer at its next meeting.

The current centre will be closed for construction from June 30.

“Current hirers have been accommodated at Wooli Street Hall if appropriate … ,” the council had advised.

The contractor is due to start demolition and the construction of the new car park after a site handover in early August.