AFL Cape York House, Alliance for Education & Training
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AFL CAPE YORK HOUSE NOW APPROVED
The last major piece in the long journey to establish the AFL Cape York Academy (now known as the AFL Cape York Alliance for Education and Training) at Buchan Street, Cairns has now been achieved with the Department of Communities confirming on Monday 16th May 2011 that funding has been approved by the Australian and Queensland governments for the development of the 48 bed accommodation facility and related buildings. The accommodation facility (known as AFL Cape York House) will be ready for admission of its first intake of indigenous students and vocational trainees in January 2013.
Project consultants are now pushing ahead with the building plans so that all building and associated approvals are in place and works underway by October 2011.
Regular updates will be posted in our website and newsletters. For more information on this release, contact Dale Treanor at AFL Cape York on 40545199 or dale@aflcapeyork.com.au
AFL Cape York House & Alliance for Education & Training Project
There has been a lot of activity Down at Buchan Street, with the mound on the City side being removed in preparation for the conversion of the playing field to AFL. Extension to the irrigation has commenced and topdressing will be started within the fortnight, AFL Cairns Head Curator Mr Rod Cade is overseeing all the ground works and Down to Earth Demolition are conduction major earth works.
If you happen to drive past the site you will notice that the rugby goal posts have been removed. AFL goal posts have been ordered and should arrive in Cairns by the end of the month; we hope to have them erected within the next three weeks.
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Preliminary plans for AFL Cape York House have been prepared and are being considered by all relevant stakeholders. Several of the AFL Cape York House project team met on Firday 15th of October to view the first draft of plans with Architect Mr Steve Gleeson which are very impressive.
We are working closely with funding partners in securing operational funding required to run the boarding side of thing. We received great news from the AFL in AFL Cape York is to a beneficiary of 100k made from the replay of the Grand Final. This is great boost for the project as it shows the commitment from Head Office and gives other possible sponsors confidence in the project.
AFL Cape York proposes the establishment of an AFL House for children from remote and disadvantaged Communities of Cape York, Torres Strait Islands and Gulf Regions.
Kickstart participants will be offered scholarships to attend the House with the purpose of creating greater lifestyle opportunities, further educational benefits and a sense of belonging. AFL Cape York are presently in discussions with Cairns City Council and Dept of Natural Resources and Water in relation to a preferred site on Buchan Street Cairns. Further information will come through on outcomes of discussions with the above organizations.
Footy plan kicks along
The AFL Cape York House is one step closer to realisation after the Department of Enviroment and Resource Management threw its support behind the project.
Minister of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson has announced DERM's approval for the transformation of the Cairns rugby union pack on Buchan St into a specialised AFL education, training and housing facility.
Workers have started to convert the existing rugby union field into an AFL oval and student accomodation will be constructed on the site of the current club house.
The facility will be home to 48 indigenous teenage boys from Cape York as they pursue secondary or vocational education at Cairns schools, or apprenticeships in the area.
"there'll also be a huge emphasis on teaching the boys about respect and responsibility in the community," AFL Cape York state indigenous programs manager Rick Hanlon said.
"We want to provide a really great support base and network around each one of the kids so that they can seek employement or further their education."
The project requires about $500,000 of further funding before work on the club house transformation can begin. The facility will incorporate well-equipped bed rooms, study areas, meeting rooms and cultural gather grounds for the students.
"It's not going to be a babysitting service though," said Mr Hanlon.
He said about 500 children in Cape York weren't attending school regularly and sport was a good way to engage indigenous students.
Specialist centre for footballers
Aspiring young indigenous footballers will soon be trained at a specialist student hostel in Cairns.
The former rugby union field in Buchan St is to be transformed into a specialist AFL educational and training hostel for indigenous students.
Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson said that the Department of Environment and Resource Management had approved a trustee lease agreement between the Cairns Reional Council and AFL Cape York over part of the reserve land to redevelop the site of the old clubhouse into a student accomodation block.
The old rugby field will be transformed into an AFL ground.
"The Cairns Regional Council has developed a management plan for the reserve that identifies the actions necessary to maintain and protect the trust land, and which also proposed the new hostel.
"The management plan was approved by DERM following public consultation on the proposal," Mr Robertson said.
Memeber for Cairns Desley Boyle welcomed the plan saying it will help young Aussie Rules footballers to not only train in their sport, but also learn valuable life skills.
"The hostel will help indigenous youth from remote communities to develop their sporting and life skills in a larger centre like Cairns," she said.
AFL Cape York Program manager Rick Hanlon said the hostel would provide the opportunity for up to 48 indigenous youth to receive an education in local schools.
NEW ACCOMMODATION IN CAIRNS TO SUPPORT YOUNG INDIGENOUS MEN FROM REMOTE COMMUNITIES
Campaign Media Realease; Deputy Prime Minister and Treasure, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Member for Leichhardt
The Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer, Wayne Swan, was in Cairns today with local member for Leichhardt, Jim Turnour and announced a new accommodation facility planned for Cairns to better support young Indigenous men from remote communities to access training and employment opportunities.
The facility will provide new accommodation and offer education and career support for up to 48 young men from remote Indigenous communities across north Queensland.
The Australian and Queensland Governments have committed funding of $4.5 million to this project. Funding for capital construction will come from the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing, which already included in the budget.
A scoping study is expected to be completed by September 2010 and will be used to develop the construction plan for the new accommodation which is expected to start in 2011.
AFL Cape York will own and operate the facility, having secured land and commenced the design phase of the project.
Mr Swan noted that providing accommodation options for Indigenous Australians from remote communities to undertake training or employment opportunities in a regional area was an important part of the Government’s commitment to give young Indigenous men from remote communities the support and encouragement they need to undertake and complete education and training and pursue work opportunities in and around Cairns.
“Better access to education, training and employment for remote Indigenous youth and better support, especially when away from home, to help them see their studies through, is essential to improving outcomes for Indigenous Australians and closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage,” Mr Swan said.
Ms Macklin said the positive partnership between the Government and AFL Cape York was essential in delivering educational and mentoring projects for Indigenous men and women across Cape York.
“Programs such as Be Strong, Be Heard, Kids Living Safer Lives and the Scholarship program have all had a positive influence in promoting healthy living, education and strong leadership in the Cape,” Ms Macklin said.
Mr Turnour welcomed the new project which will help make a huge difference in the lives of many young Indigenous men from the Cape.
“One of AFL Cape York’s success stories is 18 year old Rex Liddy from Hope Vale who was part of the scholarship program and was recently signed to play with the Gold Coast AFL team next year,” Mr Turnour said.
“He is proof that local programs run in partnership with government enhance opportunities for Indigenous youth and provide support and mentoring to help them on the road to success.”
CAIRNS
24 JULY 2010
COMMUNICATIONS UNIT: Phone: (02) 9384 2220 Fax: (02) 9264 2213
www.alp.org.au
AUTHORISED N.MARTIN for the ALF, 5/9 Sydney Ave. Barton ACT.
AFL Cape York has been Granted $25,200.00
AFL Cape York Ltd has been granted $25,200.00 by the community benefit fund to purchase a top quality ride on mower for the proposed AFL Cape York Alliance for Education and Training.
The mower will be used to train students in maintaining the sporting and surrounds at the Buchan street facility:
Teaching students how to prepare and maintain the facility is very important for leadership and ownership of their own back yard.
Hopefully by experiencing the operations of the machinery and the work done there will be students that wish to pursue a career in horticulture. The funding comes at a perfect time with major field development about to get underway.
On behalf of AFL Cape York staff and executive I would like to express our sincere thanks to the Community Benefit Fund.
State Government to Help Establish Cairns Football Hostel
The proposed AFL training hostel for indigenous students in Cairns has moved a step closer with the Bligh Government gazetting a 2.8 hectare site for sport and recreation purposes. Previously, the Buchan Street site had been gazetted as parkland.
Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said the gazetting was a significant step in transforming the site into a specialist student hostel. "All parties are working together to make this happen. It will be a great facility for the students as well as a wonderful asset for Cairns city," Mr Wallace said.
"Not to mention the future AFL stars we discover from the Cape and Far North."
Mr Wallace said the change in purpose of the reserve meant the council could now develop a Land Management Plan which would include a formal proposal for the hostel as a secondary use for the site.
"After my department reviews this plan, council will then put the plan out to public consultation, giving the community the chance to have their say on the hostel proposal."
Mr Wallace said a timeframe was still to be determined, but all stakeholders were working to finalise the proposal as soon as possible.
The Queensland Government is working with AFL Cape York and Cairns City Council transform the former rugby union field in Buchan Street into the specialist AFL training hostel.
The old rugby field, which is currently under the control of Cairns City Council as trustee, will be transformed into an AFL ground complete with a student accommodation block on the site of the old clubhouse.
"The hostel is designed to help high-school aged indigenous youth from remote communities train in their sport, but also learn valuable life skills," Mr Wallace said.
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt said he was pleased to see the project progressing strongly towards becoming a reality.
"This project had my wholehearted support in my former role as Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships," Mr Pitt said.
"It's a great concept, and it's going to be a tremendous facility I'm sure. Minister Craig Wallace also has been a staunch supporter of this proposed AFL training hostel, and I know he is committed to bringing the project to fruition."
AFL Cape York development manager Rick Hanlon said the hostel would provide the opportunity for up to 20 high school-aged youth to receive an education in local schools.
"Football is the vehicle to attract youth to this hostel, however, we also aim to give them a good education, as well as teach them valuable community skills such as cooking, and maintaining the grounds," Mr Hanlon said.
"The site is handy to schools and local businesses, and we are keen to work with all stakeholders to provide work experience and apprenticeship opportunities for our youth.
"I'd like to thank Craig Wallace and the Department of Natural Resources for their support of our proposal. They have indicated they will offer us a 30-year lease on the site instead of the usual 20-year lease, which shows they are committed to the indigenous youth of North Queensland."
Proposal Approved by Council
Updated 23.10.09
AFL Cape York is pleased to announce that the AFL Cape York Sports proposal was approved by Cairns Regional Council at a full Council meeting held 23 September 2009. Conditions attaching to the student accomodation component were subsequently approved at a meeting of the Planning and Environment committee held 14 October 2009.
Whilst Council planners had recommended a refusal of the accomodation component, the Council led by Cr Alan Blake and supported by Councillors Cochrane, Leu, Pyne, Gregory, Cooper, Bonneau and Mayor Val Schier voted in favour of the application, with Councillors Lanskey, Lesina and Forsyth voting against.
With the Council approval now secured, steps are being taken to obtain the next set of approvals required in order to begin operational works to convert the former rugby field to an AFL oval and to begin constuction of the academy buildings. The operational works are expected to commence as soon as the operational works permit is obtained, whilst building works will be likely to commence during 2010.
Proposal Crosses First Hurdle
Updated 24.06.09
The Risk Assessment Report commissioned by AFL Cape York has confirmed our belief that there is little, if any, risk posed by the BOC Gas Facility next door to the site. The report concludes that the only requirements arising from the proposed development is the erection of a solid wall along part of the boundary or the establishment of a 6 metre exclusion zone. The exclusion area is situated well away from the proposed academy buildings.
The requirements of an Information Request issued by Council have been addressed and it is expected that the Council will now proceed with the processing of the planning application.
Updated 03.04.09
The development application has been lodged with Cairns Regional Council and indicators are that the application should take 2-3 months to process.
The Council has issued an acknowledgement notice confirming receipt of the application and outlining additional matters which need to be addressed before it is presented to the Councillors for a decision. As part of the process a risk assessment will be carried out so as to satisfy the Council that the use of adjoining property will not pose a risk to users of the property once the academy is developed and operational.
AFL Cape York has commenced using the playing field for training purposes and has sought quotes for upgrading the irrigation system and top-Sdressing the playing surface. AFL goal posts will be installed as soon as Council approval is given.
The proposal continues to have the support of the Indigenous Coordination Centre in Cairns, for which AFL Cape York is extremely grateful.
Updated 18.8.08
The public consultation phase for the proposed use of the Buchan Street site has been carried out and Cairns Regional Council remains supportive of the proposed use. The public consultation report submitted to the Department of Natural Resources and Water by the Council has been accepted by the Department, which now clears the way for the town planning phase to commence.
AFL Cape York has engaged consultants to prepare and submit the development application to the Council.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin recently visited the site and met with representatives of AFL Cape York and pledged her support for the project which will, when fully operational, provide educational and vocational training support plus on-site accommodation for up to 50 indigenous youth from remote communities.
AFL Cape York House, AFL Cape York proposes the establishment of an AFL House for children from remote and disadvantaged Communities of Cape York, Torres Strait Islands and Gulf Regions.
Kickstart participants will be offered scholarships to attend the House with the purpose of creating greater lifestyle opportunities, further educational benefits and a sense of belonging. AFL Cape York are presently in discussions with Cairns City Council and Dept of Natural Resources and Water in relation to a preferred site on Buchan Street Cairns. Further information will come through on outcomes of discussions with the above organizations.