Stockland : Hervey Bay donates playground to local neighbourhood centre

Media release

Stockland Hervey Bay has donated its food court playground to the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre.*

The Neighbourhood Centre aims to build a strong, cohesive and healthy community by developing and providing programs, activities and services that respond to the needs of the most disadvantaged and isolated people in the community.

Tanya Stevenson, CEO at the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre, said she was thrilled about the donation, which would help establish its new collaborative learning space, the Neighbourhood Hive.

The playspace will enable families with small children to get involved with activities and programs, knowing their children have a safe place to play.

'The Neighbourhood Hive will be our 'messy' community centre and we're thankful to Stockland management for making it more accessible to families in our communities.'

Paul Davis, Centre Manager at Stockland Hervey Bay, said it was an easy decision to donate the playground to the Neighbourhood Centre, who the centre team continues to engage on community initiatives.

'We've remained in active touch with the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre over the years and have seen first-hand the incredible work that they continue to do with disengaged youths and families in need of assistance. I knew how much the organisation would appreciate the playground and the benefits to the community, such as having a safe space for families to meet up and connect.

'We see ourselves as a town centre designed for the community, and are always considering new ways where we can support and engage our customers and local community. We hope that families and those connecting with the Neighbourhood Centre will enjoy the playground as much as our smallest customers here have over the past two years.'

Stockland's partnership with the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre will continue throughout the Christmas season, as centre staff and volunteers run the gift-wrapping stall.

They will also have The Wandering Teapot tea products on sale in a pop-up shop at the shopping centre, from 30 November.

ENDS

*The playspace has undergone a complete deep clean prior to donation.