Work has begun on a multi-million dollar refurbishment for a major Gold Coast community hub.
The long-overdue upgrade to the Broadbeach Community Precinct will see $14.8 million dollars spent to revitalise the space.
The refurbishment will see the Albert Waterways Community Centre expanded, adding an extra 512 sqm of space for community use along with improvements to the facade of the building.
There will also be a new cafe, fresh landscaping and extra parking installed.
Originally built in 1983, Mayor Tom Tate admits the time has come to bring the centre into the new millennium.
“It’s a lot of history into it, there was a theatre there and we’d come and watch and we’d be sweating like a pig because it’s just old,” Mayor Tate said.
“It’s been two years in the planning but now with the sod turning and the pouring of some concrete, all of this will be open and usable to the public.”
Division 12 Councillor Pauline Young says the centre is widely utilised by the community.
“From Baby Rhyme Time in the morning right down to our school children and then our library facilities for our older community. We’ve got Life Education here, we’ve got the Endeavour Foundation,” Councillor Young said.
“We’ve got a lot of community groups that will benefit from this upgrade.”
The upgrade is expected to be complete by September.