IT has been over a month since Wynnum Community Place (WCP) announced it would not be reopening for the year, despite ongoing discussions with Queensland LNP representatives.
State Member for Lytton Joan Pease has joined in talks with the Queensland LNP to encourage the State Government to follow through on its funding commitment.
Last year, the LNP candidate for Lytton, Chad Gardiner, pledged to donate $500,000 to WCP if the LNP was successful in the State Election.
After the Queensland LNP’s election win, however, WCP has remained closed as it awaits confirmation of the promised funding.
In her newsletter on January 31, Mrs Pease wrote: “It’s now been 25 days since I wrote to Premier Crisafulli asking about the status of the promised $500,000 funding to Wynnum Community Place, whose doors remain shut due to promised State Government funding not being available. He hasn’t replied.
“This funding uncertainty is causing great angst in the community, especially for our most vulnerable. Our community and local support organisations need certainty.
“We expect the Premier to keep his word and deliver the funding – as promised.”
Mrs Pease reiterated her stance from last year, explaining that the centre was previously funded by the Queensland Government with her support.
“However, in 2022, their application for funding to the Department of Communities was unsuccessful, and the Y Community Hub was awarded the tender for local outreach services,” she said.
“These local outreach services are currently run by The Y, and their contract with the Queensland Government remains active.”
WCP General Manager Ronan Wicks assured the community that “no promise has been broken”.
“We are in ongoing communications with the state regarding funding,” he said.
This is not the first time that WCP’s future has been uncertain.
In September last year, the organisation closed indefinitely.
Two months later, the centre reopened for the remainder of the year in the hope that the promised funding would come through.
However, just days before its scheduled reopening on January 7 this year, WCP was forced to close again due to the absence of the $500,000 funding.
Last year, Alison Wicks, who was then CEO of Redland Community Centre, a sister organisation to WCP, expressed disappointment over the lack of response from Mrs Pease.
At the time, Mrs Pease responded by saying she was not responsible for overseeing funding decisions.
