Woden Community Services’ new home will be located in a proposed four-storey building on Callam Street. Photo: Supplied.
A one-stop hub to access Woden Community Services (WCS) is in the works with the ACT Government committing to fully cover the construction costs of a new facility.
But it’s still some way into the future with construction not expected to begin until 2026.
The plan is to build a four-storey, 2800 square-metre community facility on Callam Street next to the new bus interchange, close to the Woden Youth Centre and across the road from the new CIT and public transport interchange.
It won’t just be a home for WCS, but also contain two levels of bookable community rooms and a multi-purpose hall.
Special Minister of State Chris Steel said it would provide a home for community events, meetings and activities.
“With Woden Community Service currently spread across a number of locations, this investment will bring together essential services for the Woden community in an accessible location close to public transport,” he said.
“Work is now underway to finalise the design so that it blends seamlessly with the Town Centre, ahead of construction commencing.”
WCS has been supporting the Canberra community for more than 50 years.
It offers services across a range of support sectors, including disability, early learning, out of school hours care, housing support, tenancy support, family support, youth support, aged care and mental health.
CEO Jenny Kitchin said the announcement was the result of years of conversations.
“This is going to be able to bring people together far more effectively, and also open up space to the much broader community. It’s not just for us, it’s everyone in this local space,” she said.
“While we [currently] have office space, what we don’t have are multi-purpose rooms, different spaces for different community groups to be able to come [together].”
WCS currently employs 450 staff who are spread across three different sites.
Its Corinna Street office in Phillip was significantly damaged last year in a suspected arson attack.
Some concept designs have already been created with broader community consultation expected in the detailed design stage.
Mr Steel said enough money had been put aside for the project but wouldn’t divulge how much, given it would be going through a procurement process.
He said the four-storey community building was part of the ACT Government’s commitment to fund more community infrastructure in Woden.
“In addition to recent upgrades at the Woden Library, and a new large multipurpose hall at CIT Woden under construction, this separate new Community Centre will ensure that the Woden Valley has a range of social infrastructure and services to support its growing population,” Mr Steel said.
He pointed to government investment as a reason why there was already a “regeneration” of the broader Woden Town Centre.
“We’re starting to see that with some of the private investment that’s being made in the centre, and these public infrastructure projects are vital to make sure that we’ve got that continued investment and renewal of the broader town centre,” Mr Steel said.
“It will mean that Woden Town Centre is not just a place to shop, work, live and study, but also a place of community.”
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