Unlocking community facilities
Date published: 8 February 2023
An overhaul of the facilities and booking system for Council’s community centres has seen an increase in their use by the Townsville community.
With the installation of smart locks, new furniture and a user-friendly online booking system, Council’s six owned and operated centres have seen an increase in visitation in the past nine months with almost 30,000 people using the spaces in the same time frame.
Since the inception of the new system there have been 1,972 events or activities held across Council’s facilities, ranging from yoga, martial arts and dance classes to significant cultural events, birthdays and weddings.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the feedback from the community had been great and she was delighted that these changes had been well received.
“We have six Council run community centres at North Shore (The Green), Thuringowa (Dan Gleeson Soundshell, Heatley, Riverside Gardens (Douglas), Wulguru, Oonoonba and Railway Estate, which can be hired by the public as a place to meet, practice, play or celebrate,” Cr Hill said.
“These locations are a part of Council providing Townsville with locations for the meaningful inclusion for all members of the community, which is why it has been our priority to make them more accessible to the public.
“While Riverside Gardens has been our most popular centre, each facility is unique, such as the Heatley community centre, with its stage and sprung floor.”
All centres have been fitted out with flip tables on wheels and chair trollies to allow customers with low mobility to easily set up the room as they would like.
Alongside the furnishings, new smart locks make the facilities much easier to access for members of the community.
Visit Bookable to view Council’s community centres or to make a booking.
