Albury Council will give $98,000 a year to a new group called Thurgoona Community Centre Inc who will use the funds to employ a co-ordinator to run programs within the centre.

The new co-ordinator will have access to the hall, a large activities area, four smaller rooms, an office and kitchen.

Community forums will also be held to decide what should be done with the local pool.

The group’s chairperson, Hugh Hargreave, said up to 50 volunteers would be needed to run activity groups according to local needs.

“In 2002 this centre was recognised as the best Neighbourhood House in Albury and we’d love to get it back up to that point,” he said.

“We’ve already secured funding for some computers and internet access in the back rooms so we can run computer skills classes and we’d also like to buy some instruments to have music programs here for the youth.

“Of course, you always achieve more when the community is involved so we’ll be having forums to find out what services people would like and whether or not they can offer any skills as a volunteer.”

Albury director community and recreation James Jenkins said council would also provide funding for upgrades of the outdoor area.

Mr Jenkins said the area was in need of a major “spruce up”.

“It’s looking pretty ordinary at the moment ... so we’ll be having consultations with the community to see what they’d like developed before getting an architect to draw up some plans.”

Despite the Thurgoona Community Centre originally being opened as a general store, Mr Hargreave said using the building as a temporary grocery store while a new Woolworths supermarket was being built was not an option.

“There are certain laws we’d have to work around and there are so many groups using the facility at the moment we just wouldn’t have the space,” he said.

Close to 30 residents attended the official handover.

Many of them were excited at the prospects of the new committee.

Barbara Manley, who is involved in a Buds of May art group run at the centre, said the outdoor upgrades were most exciting.

“I’m looking forward to community consultations so we can get our pool fixed up,” she said.

“Whether it’s filled, expanded or taken away altogether, they’ve got to do something.”

Editorial — page 12