Uranquinty's kitchen rules: New kitchen for Neighbourhood Centre

Uranquinty’s kitchen rules: New kitchen for Neighbourhood Centre - 16 January 2015

Wagga Wagga City Council and Origin Energy are teaming up for a $12,000 project to install a new kitchen in the Uranquinty Neighbourhood Centre.

The Neighbourhood Centre is home to Uranquinty’s only preschool and hosts a range of other social and recreational activities. Importantly, the Neighbourhood Centre also acts as a community evacuation centre during emergencies.

The new kitchen will make the Neighbourhood Centre better equipped for its evacuation role and also increase the capacity of this community asset to host a diverse range of community events.

Origin Energy has also agreed to fund the production and installation of an emergency notice board outside the Uranquinty Neighbourhood Centre which will be used to post community information during emergencies.

“This collaborative relationship between the Uranquinty community, Origin Energy and Council is a great example of the way rural and regional communities can work together to strengthen community assets,” said Council’s Director Environment and Community Services Janice Summerhayes.

“We are pleased to be able to support a project like this that benefits everyone living and working in the Uranquinty area and helps achieve the Uranquinty community’s goal to become more resilient and prepared for emergency response in the future.”

Paul Olsen, Plant Manager at Origin’s Uranquinty Power Station, said Origin was delighted to be involved.

“The community has clearly identified this as a priority project and we are only too pleased to help make it happen,” Mr Olsen said.

“The project ticks two very important boxes for Origin – it contributes to community safety via both the new noticeboard and creating a much more appropriate evacuation centre, and at the same time it enhances the community’s capacity, with the centre now to be much better suited for renting out and hosting events.

“I’m sure the pre-schoolers will also be looking forward to creating some delicious concoctions in their brand new kitchen.”

Media opportunity

What: Unveiling of new kitchen at Uranquinty Neighbourhood Centre

When: 3pm, 20 January 2015

Where: Uranquinty Neighbourhood Centre, corner Uranquinty and Baker Streets.