The brand new $1.3 million Fern Bay Community Centre has been officially opened.
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About 50 people, including Fern Bay Public School children, turned out to the ceremony on Thursday, March 22.
Fern Bay resident and Worimi man Len Anderson welcomed visitors before Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer addressed the room.
Cr Palmer recognised the importance of a community having a meeting space, and said he was pleased to be able to open the new space Fern Bay.
“This new, modern facility is a huge step up from the previous hall,” he said.
“Plus, it’s more flexible, so different types of groups can use the space – from before and after school care to community meetings, dance groups, cultural group meetings, yoga, seniors events and much more.”
Former Port Stephens councillor and the current Fern Bay Community Centre Committee president, Geoff Dingle, said the opening was a “great event” for the small community that has for “so long felt like the forgotten race”.
“The most important issue for me was to recognise the community people who have made a contributions to retain and improve the infrastructure in their community,” he said.
“The formation of the Fern Bay and Surrounds Progress Association in 2016 has done much to inject confidence into this community.
“The formation of this group occurred as a result of a packed public meeting held in 2016 to highlight the inequity of section 94 [funds] being directed away from Fern Bay to larger communities in Port Stephens at the expense of the Fern Bay and surround community.
“The resulting community pressure on Port Stephens Council resulted in additional funds ($500,000) allocated to the Fern Bay Community Centre build and the project actually going ahead.”
“The new Fern Bay hall build almost didn’t happen,” he said.
“It was held up for over 12 months following arguments over the potential for a community centre to be built at Seaside [estate] and a suggestion the Fern Bay and surrounds population numbers didn’t support a new facility.
“The initial design was totally under done and underfunded, however input from the community… resulted in recruitment of new architectural group that has come up with a great design.”
Between 2011 and 2016 the Fern Bay-Fullerton Cove area grew 173 per cent, Census data show, with more than 3300 people now in the area.
With the rapid growth of Sea Side and Bay Way developments there is already an extra 1000 residents now estimated to call the area home.
In a speech at the ceremony, Port Stephens Council’s volunteers coordinator Melinda Anderson also recognised the volunteers who have helped maintain the hall for more than 30 years.
To round out the ceremony, attendees were treated to dances by Fern Bay Public School children.
The school, located directly next to the community centre, is also celebrating a milestone this year. With 21 kindergarten students, it has been able to run its first standalone kindergarten class since 1955.
The students also helped to cut the ribbon, signifying the official opening of the hall.
Port Stephens Council, which fully funded the rebuild, consulted with the Fern Bay Community Centre Committee and tennis club on the on the design and development of the new centre.
The new Fern Bay Community Centre includes:
- A multi-function hall space for community meetings
- Tennis club office and net storage
- Titchen facilities
- Reception desk and storage rooms
- Public amenities
- Sealed car parking spaces for 20 vehicles
Speech made by Fern Bay Community Centre Committee president, Geoff Dingle, at the March 22 opening of the Fern Bay Community Centre
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
