Media Release by The Hon Tanya Pibersek MP

$2 million to redevelop Waterloo Youth Facility

Joint Media Release with:

  • The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for Infrastructure Transport Regional Development and Local Government

Anthony Albanese, Minister for Infrastructure and Local Government and Tanya Plibersek, Member for Sydney, today announced that the Rudd Labor Government would offer $2 million towards the long-overdue redevelopment of the Waterloo Youth Facility building in Sydney.

Minister Albanese made the announcement today with Minister Plibersek and the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore.

The Rudd Government will fund the majority of this $2.7 million project. This funding is part of our $800 million Community Infrastructure Program – the largest one-off investment in local infrastructure in Australia’s history.

Through the economic stimulus package, the Rudd Government is investing in major projects to support local jobs during the global recession.

This project will promote positive social outcomes for young people in disadvantaged communities through the provision of basic education, training, health and counselling services.

This $2.7 million project will deliver a number of upgrades to the building, including:

  • Refurbishing the existing building and facade;
  • New steel canopy shading structure and roof;
  • New kitchen and amenities;
  • New paths, public seating, and landscaping works;
  • Proper insulation, increased storage, new floor and wall linings, new doors and windows and new furniture throughout; and
  • Upgrading and re-using existing hydraulic and electrical services where possible.

The Waterloo Youth facility is located in a City of Sydney-owned building but is run by the South Sydney Youth Service.

About 40 per cent of the Service’s Redfern and Waterloo-based clients are Indigenous young people, and most are unemployed.

The Waterloo Youth Facility operates in an old amenities building which was converted in 1991. It is in poor condition and its design does not allow the Service to engage young people using Waterloo Oval and the skate park next door.

An improved youth facility will deliver practical services to help get disadvantaged young people into education and employment, including:

  • A doctor service and counselling;
  • Increased education courses and workshops; and
  • Practical training in construction, horticulture, business and enterprise.

It will also incorporate environmental sustainability measures, including new energy-efficient building materials, low energy lighting, thermal heating and cooling, natural ventilation and rainwater collection and reuse.

This funding builds on $660,000 that the Rudd Government has already delivered for City of Sydney community infrastructure this year.

Nearly 70 per cent of the stimulus package is infrastructure, with construction projects already underway. More than 3,000 projects are being funded through the Government’s Community Infrastructure Program across Australia to support local jobs.