July-August 2016 Oceania Edition

Business View Australia - July - August 2016 21 there has been major investment in the renewal or upgrade of public infrastructure across various areas of Council responsibility including recreation, roads & bridges, urban drainage, public halls, community facilities, economic development and tourism. A key theme of council’s strategic direction is the creation of functional and vibrant public facilities and open space which encourages social interactions within the community. The Council recognizes the need to create and promote community hubs as well as the fact that sports play a major role in the social fabric of the local community and the broader region, thus Council has strived to meet needs of its residents through sustained investment in key public facilities and assets. Recreation for the entire community The Donaldson Park Pavilion Upgrade, for instance, aims to please multiple user groups who will be taking advantage of the sporting facilities. The facilities are currently being used for football, netball, harness racing, and hockey, as well as a number of related sporting activities or public events. Theupgradewill adddedicated change room facilities, DDA compliant public toilets, a first aid and trainers’ room, a function room area catering for up to 150 people, a meeting and stewards’ room, an office and administration area, a commercial kitchen, kiosk, bar, servery area, and improved storage capacity overall. Though there’s no funding strategy in place yet, the project is expected to cost around $1.5 million. On a similar note, the Pyramid Hill Community Centre aims to convert the underutilised Pyramid Hill Senior Citizens Centre into a community hub which will encourage more social activities within the area. Right now, the project is in its infancy but the Council suggests that there is strong community support for its development. For example, the growing Filipino community of Pyramid Hill is seeking meeting spaces as