A SOUTHERN Queensland council’s pledge to participate in the state’s age-friendly communities program has come at the expense of its support for a long-standing seniors’ group.
The Donald Simpson Community Centre, a hub for seniors that has operated in Cleveland for 30 years, attracts about 50,000 people annually to its suite of activities, running six days a week.
From July 1, 2018, Redland City Council will stop operational funding of the centre – halved to $50,000 this financial year. It will continue to share maintenance costs and waive rent.
While a council spokesman said the funds would be redistributed to support other community organisations addressing seniors’ needs for affordable social activities, no specific organisations could be named.
The Senior visited the centre on a Monday morning. At one end of the building, about 70 women chatted and quilted. A group of about 10 men and women were doing leatherwork in an adjacent room.
More than 100 people were filing out of the auditorium from a U3A presentation, making way for a line dancing group, to be followed by a ballet for seniors class and then a Zumba session. A handful of people were in the centre’s library, reading or using the free WiFi. Outside, tai chi was in quiet reflective progress.
Despite two petitions seeking reconsideration, and the ire of the centre’s 2200 members, the council has held its decision.
“Council has not cut funding for the seniors sector, as the funding previously provided to the Donald Simpson Centre will be used for implementation of the Queensland Age Friendly Community Action Plan,” a council spokesman said.
In a stroke of irony, the Palaszczuk government announced a $25,000 one-off grant to the centre, under the same age-friendly plan, in October.
Age-friendly community action plans take in affordable housing and transport, safe outdoor spaces and buildings, and seek to keep residents involved, connected, healthy, active and included.
“The Donald Simpson Community Centre was built, ahead of its time, to relieve social isolation,” said centre chairman Tony Christinson.
“The last thing we want is to have someone sitting at home with nothing to do because they can’t afford to attend, or because activities have been cut back.”
Centre manager Thomas Jithin said the centre, which already operates Monday to Saturday, was actively recruiting for more and varied activities as well as community partners and sponsors.
Redland council has put more than $1 million into the centre over 30 years in the form of construction costs, maintenance, rent and operational funding.
“No other local community organisation has received this level of ratepayer support,” the council spokesman said.
“Council has worked with the Donald Simpson Centre in recent years to support its financial independence, encouraging it to build a business case to ensure its sustainability and make it less dependent on ratepayer funding.”
It is understood centre members earlier this year voted against a council proposal to introduce other organisations on site, turning it into a one-stop shop for senior services.