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Prime Minister's Literary Awards
ACT Seniors Week | 19-23 March 2012
National Multicultural Festival | 10-12 February 2012
International Women's Day | 8 March
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Revitalising Our Communities
In May 2008 the ACT Government announced a consultation process to help determine the future use of eight surplus schools and their environs. After eight community forums, information stalls, site information brochures, stakeholder forums and submissions by email, phone and in person, that consultation was completed. The Government welcomed the broad range of views expressed by a significant cross-section of the community, and the feedback helped to shape its final decisions.
Cook Community Hub – A Celebration!
Come and Enjoy, Explore and Engage in your community!
Time: 11.00am – 3.00pm
Date: Saturday 16 October 2010
Location: Cook Community Hub, Parking off Ellis Street, Cook
The Cook Community Hub is one component of the Regional Community Facilities and Neighbourhood Halls Project carried out by the Government. These new facilities located in Cook, Weston, Chifley and Holt have been designed to meet the needs of valued community organisations within Canberra and to provide meeting and recreation space to residents of local areas.
The Cook Community Hub is the first of the four Hubs to be fully tenanted and operational and has something for everyone: dance, ballet, theatre, film, life long learning, quilting, support, genealogy, choirs and play schools.
This event aims to build connections between the hub, local associations, residences and businesses to build the strength of the wider community
Celebration includes:
Workshops with theatre groups;
Choir and dance performances;
A range of art and craft exhibitions;
Quilting demonstrations;
Children’s activities;
Multicultural food stalls;
Open day tours of individual organisations
Guest of Honour Deputy Chief Minister Katy Gallagher will open the Celebration at 11am in the Cook Neighbourhood Hall.
Regional Community Hubs
Four Regional Community Hubs, five neighbourhood halls and a number of community parks will be operational by June 2010.
Approximately 40 community organisations have been allocated space in the four Regional Community Hubs at Cook, Holt, Weston and Chifley.
Regional Community Hubs - Tenant List
Cook Regional Community Hub
Aranda Koala Playschool Parents Association Inc.
Canberra Quilters Inc.
The Heraldry & Genealogy Society of Canberra Inc.
U3A (University of the Third Age)
Companion House
Free-Rain Theatre Company, Supa Productions and Phoenix Players
Canberra Youth Ballet School
ACT Playgroups Association Incorporated
Community Programs Association Inc (LEAD)
Adult Learning Australia Incorporated
Holt Regional Community Hub
Carers ACT Inc.
Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT Inc. (SHFPACT)
National Brain Injury Foundation
Sharing Places
Chifley Regional Community Hub
Australian Diabetes Educators Association Ltd
Nutrition Australia
Anglicare Canberra Goulburn (The Junction Youth Health Service)
Mental Health Foundation
Australian Breastfeeding Association
Asthma Foundation
Neurospace
Australian Council State School Organisations Incorporated
YMCA
Warehouse Circus Incorporated
Autism Asperger ACT Inc.
Sids and Kids ACT
Weston Regional Community Hub
ACT Council of Social Service Inc.
Parentline ACT Inc.
Woden Community Service Inc.
Communities at Work
Toora Women Inc.
Good Environment Choice - Australia
Good Environmental Services
Australia21
Sustainable Population Australia
Woden Community Service Incorporated
Association of Parents & Friends of ACT Schools Inc.
Former Rivett Primary School
Noah's Ark
Former Village Creek Primary School
ACT Health - Equipment Loan Service and ancillary services
Refurbishment of the Cook and Holt Community Hubs is planned to begin in September 2009, and refurbishment of the Chifley and Weston Community Hubs planned to begin in November 2009.
Neighbourhood Halls
Neighbourhood halls will be provided within the former school buildings at Cook, Weston (using the former school halls) and Holt (using one wing of the former school). A community meeting room will be provided in Chifley.
New purpose-built halls will be built at Griffith and Bonython. Community provided input about the design of these halls to the architects in June 2009. Construction of the new halls is planned to commence in October 2009 and refurbishment of existing halls will be actioned progressively in parallel with the refurbishment of the former schools.
Neighbourhood halls will be intended for casual hire by the community. Though plans for the future management and use of the halls have yet to be finalised, it is expected that the profile of the management organisations and conditions for hire will be similar to those currently in place at other DHCS community facilities. Examples of activities that might be conducted at neighbourhood halls include: dance, yoga, some martial arts, religious gatherings, club activities, meetings, performances and exhibitions. An important measure of the success of the project will be the use that the community makes of these facilities.
The plans for Griffith and Bonython halls can be viewed at the following links:
Griffith and Bonython Floor Plan.jpg 232Kb
Bonython Plan.jpg 166Kb
Griffith Plan.jpg 198Kb
Community Parks
The Department of Territory and Municipal Services (TAMS) has been charged with delivering Community Parks at a range of former school sites across the Territory including each Regional Community Hub. See the TAMS website for more information 
.
August Update 2009
Individual Tenancies
Architects and tenants have been working together to finalise the location space and design requirements for individual tenancies. All locational plans have been finalised along with common meeting areas, amenities, storage areas and disability access requirements.
Construction / Refurbishment is planned to begin in September / October 2009 for the Holt and Cook Regional Community Hubs and in November 2009 for the Chifley and Weston Community Hubs. The whole project will be completed by June 2010 with Holt and Cook expected to be completed by March 2010 and Chifley and Weston expected to be completed May 2010.
Community Liaison
From April - June 2009, officers from the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services (DHCS) has provided information about the Regional Community Hubs to regional Community Councils in Belconnen, Weston Creek, Woden and Tuggeranong. In addition, DHCS has met with members of the Village Creek community and representatives of the Hall, Tharwa and Griffith communities regarding plans for the community facilities in their areas. DHCS and TAMS have conducted consultation and information sessions at the Jamison, Kippax, Chifley, Kambah Village and Cooleman Court shopping centres and with the Chifley Neighbourhood Watch Group.
2008 Consultation Documents and Government Decisions
View 2008 consultation documents and government decisions list.
Purdon Reports
The Government previously engaged Purdon Associates to review the future use of the eight community sites and consult with the community. View these reports.
Contact Us
Telephone: 6205 4973
Email: dhcs@act.gov.au
