THE Macleay Vocational College has the power to move forward and invest further in youth education after Kempsey Shire Council voted to hand over the land the college occupies for $1.
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When established, the Macleay Vocational College arranged a lease of council land which ensured council still had some control over the land should the college not eventuate as planned.
Since then the college has been paying rates and a peppercorn lease, and council now believes the transfer of the land to the college is in line with the intent to allow the charitable use of the land.
Macleay Vocational College manager and principal Mark Morrison told The Macleay Argus the handover of land for $1 was a great and welcomed move by the council.
“The college was established by the community for the community and the council helped out by allowing us to have a site to build on and then by supporting us through our endeavours and this is continued support from the council which is outstanding,” Mr Morrison said.
“What it means for the people in this community is that one of the things the young people need is a place to belong too and a place they feel safe in."
Mr Morrison said the Macleay Vocational College was supported by a wide range of community businesses, services and agencies and takes a holistic approach to encouraging young people in the Macleay Valley who have dropped out of education for a variety of reasons to re-engage and see the value in education.
"The community invests time into assisting these young people to become active, resilient and confident members of society, who feel they belong and have an opportunity to share their talents and skills with the workforce," he said.
“This announcement gives the young people some recognition for all their efforts to be active participants in society and this says that the community values what they do and we want them to be apart of the community.
“Financially it also gives us the opportunity to look at rebuilding and offering young people better facilities and opportunities that will meet their needs over the next 20 years.”
Kempsey Shire Council mayor Liz Campbell said the handover of the land for $1 shows real commitment to the community’s young people.
“This is something we want to progress within the community and it does show that we really value this community college,” Cr Campbell said.
“The students that have been developed here are wonderful people and it also shows commitment by the council that we want to take the college to the next level.”
