Muddy Puddles therapy centre another step closer

Eurobodalla councillors showed their support at Tuesday’s Council meeting for local disability organisation Muddy Puddles to establish an educational therapy centre on Council land in Catalina.

Muddy Puddles representatives have been working with Council staff over recent months and requested a lease of up to 30 years over part of Melaleuca Reserve in Catalina to build their facility.

The centre will be built using NSW Government funding and will provide education, therapy and support services for children and teens with a disability.

For the lease to proceed, Council is required to re-categorise the land from ‘park’ to ‘general community use’ under its Plan of Management. The land re-categorisation proposal will be placed on public exhibition in the near future.

Council is also required to hold a public meeting with an independent chairperson to review the amendment to the Plan of Management. This will take place as soon as possible and a report from the chairperson will be presented to Council after the public meeting. The lease will be negotiated at that time.

Mayor Lindsay Brown said Council is very pleased to be assisting Muddy Puddles.

“A local educational therapy service for children and young people with a disability is vitally important for families, carers, and health professionals in this region. Muddy Puddles has done fantastic work in attracting funding to build the centre and Council is determined to help by providing the land.”