Community centre's future still in doubt

The future of the Onslow Community Resource Centre is still uncertain almost two months after it closed its doors due to staff shortages.

The Onslow CRC had been operating in Onslow for the past 14 years and operated as a community not-for-profit organisation with a committee, funded by a variety of sources, including the Department of Regional Development.

The CRC provided a range of services including a video conference room, meeting room for community groups, broadband internet for seniors, the Department of Transport, Centrelink and access to photocopying and printing services.

The Small Business Centre West Pilbara expressed an interest in taking over the services of the CRC and in the past two months a number of meetings had taken place between them, the Shire and the CRC committee, but a final decision on when the centre will reopen has yet to be made.

At the Shire's most recent council meeting, a motion to decide on the centre's management, through either Shire council or the SBCWP, failed to pass.

Shire of Ashburton president Kerry White said it was up to the CRC committee to decide on its future.

"It's all their stuff, whether they want to eventually give it to the Shire or the DRD, I'm unsure," she said.

A spokeswoman for the DRD said $54.5 million had been allocated in the State budget for the department's Community Resource Centres program for the next four years and the Onslow CRC was a priority.

"The department considers the Onslow Community Resource Centre as a priority site and is currently working with local organisations to ensure services can continue to be delivered in the community," she said.

"At this stage the department is considering some options which are still in the discussion and development phase. "

The department will advise the community when a firm decision is made in the near future."

The SBCWP and a CRC committee representative said they were unable to comment at this time.