Kallangur Scouts prepared for new home

Kallangur Scouts are looking forward to having a new home at Murrumba Downs, with a purpose-built facility expected to open in the middle of next year.

Moreton Bay Regional Council this week awarded the tender to build the $722,000 centre, which comes on top of a recent commitment for a new $760,000 Scout facility at Clontarf and the completion of a new Scout centre at Deception Bay.

Mayor Peter Flannery says the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded everyone of the importance of outdoor recreation to mental and physical wellbeing, recommending Scouts as one of the best ways to explore the great outdoors.

Be prepared

“A week of camp life is worth six months of theoretical teaching in the meeting room according to the founder of Scouting, Robert Baden-Powell and I have to agree,” Mayor Flannery says.

“As a former Australian Army soldier, I see the similarities in the values these young Scouts will learn here to set them up for life and I encourage local families to get involved.

“The Scouts’ motto is ‘Be Prepared’ and we want them to be prepared for a post-pandemic boom in popularity by building this incredible facility.”

Council has contributed nearly $500,000 in partnership with the Federal Government to make the project a reality for the Kallangur Scout Group.

Federal Member for Dickson Peter Dutton says the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund supports regions and communities that have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus crisis.

Creating resilient leaders

“The Morrison Government has committed $234,000 in COVID-19 funding towards this local project as both a jobs-generator and an investment in giving families in Murrumba Downs and Kallangur a greater range of recreation opportunities,” Mr Dutton says.

“Scouts are a great contributor to our community by building resilient young leaders for the future, and this is just a small way we can help them continue their important work.”

Deputy Mayor Cr Denise Sims (Div 7) says the new facility will be built to suit the Scouts’ current and future needs and will welcome children from across the region.

“Scouts have this incredible ability to help children embrace adventure by providing a place for them to discover, learn, play and imagine,” she says.

“It has been quite a journey for the group, moving several times, but now I am pleased to say the Kallangur Scout Group will have a permanent home here in Murrumba Downs.”

Booming popularity

Scouts Queensland Acting Chief Commissioner Jean Clifford says there is an increase in popularity for the youth development organisation.

“Scouts Queensland is booming, with an increase in new members of 85% last month compared to the same period last year,” she says.

“The support of the Federal Government and Moreton Bay Regional Council in providing a purpose-built place to meet ensures we can continue to deliver a fun, adventurous, challenging and inclusive program for young people across the region to help build resilience in the community.”

The design process will start in November and construction is expected to conclude by mid-2021, weather depending.

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