Northern Beaches Council has adopted its Community Centres Policy and Strategy which will guide Council in planning and managing its community centres in the face of increasing demand over the next 20 years.

Endorsed by Council at its meeting last night, the Community Centres Strategy calls for more shared-use, larger multi-purpose facilities; and an integrated network of centres to be established.

Mayor Regan said community centres provide space for activities that support social connectedness, reduce loneliness and increase physical activity.

“These activities result in improved general health, mental health, personal and social wellbeing for everyone in the community,” Mayor Regan said.

“The growth in population and an increase in medium-density housing will put pressure on existing centres to provide sufficient space for the population. This contributes to the need to expand the community centre network in the future to respond to existing and changing demographics.

“Community centres in the future will also provide spaces for use during times of community need such as has been experienced with recent natural storm events and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Regan said the soon to be constructed Warriewood Community Centre has been designed to meet this likely future need.

“The network of community centres will be a key element in ensuring the ongoing resilience of our population.”

Both the Community Centres Policy and Community Centres Strategy contain feedback from the second round of community consultation in late 2019. The feedback has resulted in a number of amendments including two new strategies.

These include developing a funding plan for the implementation of the strategy and investigating the Aboriginal history of current and future centres.