Young people are set to benefit from a youth worker following the NSW Government's announcement of $54,000 for Gunning District Association to launch the Upper Lachlan Youth Social Inclusion Pilot.
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The youth worker will run activities for up to two hours per month in all of the shire's smaller towns - except for Tuena due to its small population of young people - and fortnightly in Taralga, Gunning and Crookwell, Gunning District Association secretary Gavin Douglas said.
Mr Douglas said Tuena's young people could still access the activities in other towns.
Activity ideas and a room at a reduced rate for the youth worker to use will be provided by Bigga Progress Association, Binda Progress Association, Collector Community Association, Crookwell Neighbourhood Centre, Dalton Community Association, Laggan Hall Committee and Taralga Progress Association, Mr Douglas said.
"It could be a cooking class or sporting activity," he said.
The youth worker will also provide a drop-in service for young people to work on their CV, as an example, in Crookwell and Gunning fortnightly.
The third part of the pilot will include using the Gunning Community Care bus to transport young people to activities inside and outside of the shire, Mr Douglas said.
Gunning District Association has budgeted to use the bus for eight activities in the 18 month pilot period, which will include the youth days the association currently organises.
The association applied for the grant for the pilot in response to a three-year push from its Youth Representatives, Mr Douglas said.
Mr Douglas said he didn't believe the shire had a youth worker in his time and that Gunning District Association's Youth Representatives had proposed the idea to Upper Lachlan Shire Council twice.
"We will be asking at the end of the pilot for the council to take on the program as a service. We also hope it will act as a model for other councils to use," Mr Douglas said.
"The whole idea is to connect young people with youth services."
A couple of candidates have expressed an interest in the job, which will go out to tender. Mr Douglas said the association was open to hiring two youth workers, with one taking care of Gunning and the surrounding towns and the other taking of Crookwell and the surrounding towns.
Funds go further
The NSW Government has also announced $672,747 from the Stronger Country Communities Fund to build a new sports amenities block at Gunning Showground.
"This project will demolish the old, dilapidated toilet block and build a new amenities block, which includes change rooms and disabled facilities, canteen, storage and meeting room," state member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman said.
"This facility will service the skate park, children's playground, as well as the pedestrian, sporting and showground facilities nearby."
A further $58,695 will construct a picnic shelter and barbecue at Pat Cullen Reserve in Crookwell.
"The Pat Cullen Reserve really needs a roofed picnic shelter and BBQ facilities. This grant will enable not only facilities to seat 16 but will also include an accessible dual electric BBQ, landscaping and pathways to enjoy the well-loved reserve," Mrs Tuckerman said.
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