Shellharbour City Council will partner with the KidzWish Foundation to build a new centre on council land in Flinders.
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Shellharbour council will seek approval from the Office of Local Government (OLG) to enter into a Public, Private Partnership (PPP) with the KidzWish Foundation, a move unanimously endorsed by Shellharbour councillors.
Under the agreement, KidzWish would enter into a long-term lease with council and build a centre on council land located in Adam Murray Way, Flinders.
At the end of the 40-year lease the facility will be dedicated to the council. The annual "ground rental" is yet to be determined.
Charity founder, Chris Beaven explained that KidzWish had grown significantly since its inception and the new facility would create a new service for the children of the Illawarra.
"Since its beginning 11 years ago, KidzWish has grown at a tremendous rate and there is a need to move operations and to move to a bigger premises," Mrs Beaven said.
"The KidzWish place in Shell Cove has, for the past six years, been the haven for providing therapy assisted programs, speech, occupational therapy and physio and recreational respite programs of music and dance for a growing number of children in our region. So much so, that we now have a year-long waiting list."
Mrs Beaven said the early intervention Kids Speak Program would operate out of the new centre and help to deliver the mobile program to 600 local children and the 18 preschools on the waiting list.
"If children can't speak, they can't read, they can't communicate and they can't learn," Mrs Beaven said.
"We continue to develop a collaborative program aimed at enhancing the lives of sick, disabled and disadvantaged children in our region and a partnership with Shellharbour City Council, via the provisions of land at Adam Murray Way, will strengthen our resolve to make sure our children get the care, love and laughter they need."
The plans include office administration rooms, therapy rooms, gym, covered play area, hydrotherapy room and even a magic cupboard. The cost of the building would be covered by KidzWish.