{"id":376848,"date":"2026-10-09T18:19:57","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T08:19:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=376848"},"modified":"2026-10-09T18:25:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T08:25:39","slug":"3-96m-youth-park-buildings-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/10\/09\/3-96m-youth-park-buildings-open\/","title":{"rendered":"$3.96m Youth Park Buildings Open"},"content":{"rendered":"
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South Burnett CTC CEO Jason Erbacher, centre, with senior CTC staff and representatives from Favier Building Industries, the company which built the new complex<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

October 9, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

A small ceremony was held in Kingaroy on Friday morning to mark the official opening of South Burnett CTC’s $3.96 million redevelopment in Somerset Street.<\/p>\n

CTC CEO Jason Erbacher said the idea for the project began in August 2024, just two months before a funding application deadline for the Federal Government’s Growing Regions Program.<\/p>\n

The project then proceeded very quickly … grant writer Olivia Everitt worked on a submission to the Federal Government, which was approved on January 7, 2025.<\/p>\n

The grant was for $1.98 million, which CTC then matched dollar-for-dollar.<\/p>\n

A tender for construction went out just five months later, and awarded to Kingaroy-based Favier Building Industries a month later.<\/p>\n

Work on the foundations began in October 2025 … and staff moved into their new offices on September 7, 2026!<\/p>\n

Mr Erbacher said this was just Stage 1 of the South Burnett CTC’s plans for the Youth Park site, which could include more buildings and an expanded car park to the east of the current buildings.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He said it was just two years from “having the dream” to making it happen because of the great team involved.<\/p>\n

Mr Erbacher thanked the South Burnett Regional Council for assisting with the planning processes and infrastructure charges; and Stanwell which contributed $180,000 “so we didn’t have to sacrifice anything”.<\/p>\n

The expansion has created a series of modern – and welcoming – spaces where CTC staff members can meet in private with children and families who need support.<\/p>\n

It includes four new single-storey buildings, connected walkways, landscaping and a sealed 34-space car park.<\/p>\n

Mr Erbacher said the redevelopment was an investment in the long-term needs of the South Burnett.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is much more than an investment in buildings. It is an investment in our community and in making sure people can access support in an environment that is welcoming, respectful and appropriate for the services we provide,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe continue to see strong and growing demand for support across our region. As that need has grown, so has CTC. We now employ nearly 300 people across our services, and it is important that our facilities grow with us and remain fit for the work our teams are doing every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

CTC Community Services manager Kirsten Firman recalled that initially all the services at the Youth Park site involved young people but over the years this had expanded to supporting families, the victims of domestic and family violence and the homeless.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“It became a very busy, untenable space,” she said. “This is a space you can breathe in.”<\/p>\n

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