In the final week of the July school holidays, 30 of the district's youth from Gunning, Dalton, Jerrawa, Yarra, Yass and Goulburn aged between 12- to 25-years-old were surveyed at the Dalton Youth Day.

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The results showed problems young people faced in the area included a lack of youth support, lack of activities, social isolation, high cost of fuel, lack of sporting opportunities, and an inability to see school friends.

Ninety-six per cent said they would or might be involved in activities if there was a local youth worker to organise them.

The Gunning District Association has planned a pilot program, to be rolled out across the area, that would employ a youth worker to provide advice and information to young people and organise activities for the youth.

The concept project has sought the ideas of young people since 2017, and a common theme is increasing youth activities in the Upper Lachlan.

The project proposal suggests many young people are isolated because of the population's geographical spread, the number of different schools they attend, and a lack of youth services in the area. Most centres that provide services to the area are based out of Yass or Goulburn.

The pilot is scheduled to start in January 2020 and conclude in December 2021.

However, for the pilot to proceed, the project needs grant funding estimated at $54,000.

Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman has backed the association's application to the NSW Government's Stronger Country Community Fund to implement the program.

The Bigga, Binda, Collector Progress Associations showed their support in writing, as did several businesses in Gunning.

Lana Boner, president of the Bigga Progress Association, wrote that the community group would happily support the idea.

"As a small town, there isn't a lot of activities currently available for young people, so a youth worker would definitely help provide a fun and safe place for the youth of our community to get together and get active," she said.

"We also feel that having access to appropriate mental health services would be of great benefit."

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