Plan to get kids off Townsville streets
A NEW youth precinct development designed to get kids off the street and divert local youth away from crime could be ready as soon as mid-2022.
YWAM Townsville will receive $778,500 from the federal government’s Building Better Regions Fund to help construct the multipurpose youth precinct, which will include an adventure-based learning high-ropes course, a multipurpose space and a cafe.
The precinct, which is expected to cost a total of $1.75m, will take over the former Salvation Army recovery centre on the corner of Walker and Blackwood streets. The facility will offer vocational training and skills for job readiness, as well as partner with key stakeholders to assist with preventive, intervention and rehabilitation programs for youth, helping to address North Queensland’s youth crime, disadvantage and suicide issues.
YWAM is in the process of developing partnerships with organisations and bodies.
Herbert MP Phillip Thompson said when he saw the plan for YWAM’S project, he knew it would be transformational for the city.
“We know some of the main contributing factors to the youth crime crisis we face in Townsville are disengagement and often just boredom,” he said. “The Youth Precinct will provide not only a fun place for youth to come and challenge themselves both mentally and physically with the high-ropes course, but to also learn some skills to help them into employment and engage with early intervention programs.
“That’s really the key to this project – attracting young people with a fun place to relax with their mates and try something new while having teams on-site looking out for their wellbeing and making sure they’re not falling in with the wrong crowd.”
Mr Thompson said the more youth could be engaged in a positive way, the less the city would experience negative social issues. “YWAM already does an amazing job in our community so I have absolutely no doubt this project will deliver on its vision. I couldn’t be more happy to have helped secure this funding for such an important initiative,” he said.
YWAM director Ken Mulligan said the federal government funding would help the project get off the ground.
In August this year, YWAM also received $10,000 from Bravus, the company behind the Carmichael Mine.
Mr Mulligan said this would be an investment in quality infrastructure for young people in the community.
“This will fill a great need in the community,” Mr Mulligan said.
“This is a space we have been planning and working on for a number of years, but to have a boost like this means that we can work to be engaging young people there by late next year.”
“The past 18 months have highlighted the tremendous needs in our local young people more than ever, so we are very grateful to have this space to help develop leadership and skills in many young people, and of course work across every sector of youth engagement to help connect with those who are very disadvantaged. “We are really hopeful about what this will offer our community.”