You could be forgiven for thinking that the Committee’s gone cold on its plans to redevelop and extend the Care Centre. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Since the lease on the land was signed with Lismore Council in February, we have been creeping ahead as time permits, armed with a set of inspirational drawings prepared by our consulting architect, Tom Simmat, who had facilitated the design brief workshop held in June 2008.

Following very supportive discussions and advice from Mike Cooper, SCU’s Group Director, Finance and University Services and Director Facilities Management and Services, in April, the land was surveyed by Consulting Surveyors and Planners, Newton Denny Chapelle. Tom did some more work, providing a site plan and possible staging plans for us to discuss with Lismore Council’s Economic Development Unit.

In recent weeks Lynne de Weaver and Lydia Kirby have prepared our first application for grant funding under the NSW Community Building Partnerships Program. Newton Denny Chapelle have agreed to prepare the Development Application for us.

Whilst progress is slow, the amount of support being offered to us is indeed gratifying. Tom Simmat’s work has been given to Friends of the Koala entirely pro bono as has Newton Denny Chapelle’s.