PCYC to take church hall

Gosford Council has approved the lodgement of a development application to relocate a church hall onto the Umina PCYC site in Osborne St.

The church hall is currently located in Wells St, Springfield, and can hold around 100 people.

According to a council report, the Umina PCYC is a council-owned building leased by the PCYC.

"An opportunity has arisen for the PCYC to obtain the hall free of charge, and they wish to take advantage of the hall to expand their services," the report stated.

"The PCYC intend to use the hall to provide a safe all-weather environment for activities such as indoor archery, music workshops, arts and crafts, more holiday activities, a place for mothers and children to meet and network, and for use by various community members and groups.

"It would also allow for the relocation of the police office to accommodate their greater need to have a private place for children and their families to attend as part of their new role as case managers under youth command.

"In the past, much of the police programming was done in off-site trips, but the new case management model will help to build positive relationships and behaviours with young offenders and their families.

"Umina Beach PCYC also facilitates a traffic offenders intervention program which could be run from the new hall.

The report stated Umina PCYC would take full responsibility for all on-going operation and maintenance costs associated with the hall as well as transportation, relocation and service connection costs.

Council also resolved to waive the development application and council fees.

Council agenda COM.12, 24 Feb 2009