Watching the new The Hub at Guyra take shape last Friday, Board Chair Dot Vickery OAM, Armidale Regional Council Interim Administrator Viv May PSM, Uniplan Managing Director Ben Scott, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, The Hub at Guyra Co-ordinator Chris Hietbrink and Uniplan Operations Manager Glen Snow.
Monday, 10 August 2020
THE $400,000 redevelopment and expansion of the ‘The Hub at Guyra’ reached a significant milestone last week with the three modules, which will make up the main building, craned onto the site of the former community outreach centre.
Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall and Armidale Regional Council Interim Administrator Viv May today inspected the State Government-funded project last Friday, along with staff from Armidale based modular building company Uniplan, and The Hub’s staff and board.
“It’s very pleasing to see sections of the old, cramped building demolished last month and the new modules delivered and ready to be put together,” Mr Marshall said.
“Like a giant jigsaw, over the next month the pieces of The Hub will literally be connected in front of the community’s very eyes, to create a new modern functional community space.
“Once this part of the build is complete the external finishes will be applied and tradies will come in to connect the modules, and more importantly new kitchen, up to water, power and sewerage.
“A separate contractors will then be engaged to construct the new entry foyer and access ramp and all lay carpet.
“All works are on schedule and fingers crossed they will be finished, and the building commissioned, by the end of September.”
Mr Marshall said once complete The Hub would be better equipped to provide outreach services to the Guyra community.
“With new office space, community meeting rooms and public amenities with disabled access, this development will give The Hub’s staff a more private and empathetic workspace in which to support residents in need,” he said.
“It’s very exciting the Department of Communities and Justice has also come on board and provided the funding needed to install an accessible adult change facility – the only one of its kind between Newcastle and Brisbane, on the New England Highway.
“That means efforts can now be turned to securing grants to purchase window coverings, furniture and a new telephone system to make The Hub the welcoming place it deserves to be.”
The project has been funded by the State Government through the Stronger Country Communities Fund.