Tiwu Kumangka was officially opened on Monday 9 October 2023.
Tiwu Kumangka is an exciting and innovative community centre and library that is the centrepiece of the revitalisation of Blackwood and a place for the community to come together to learn, participate and celebrate in a range of community spaces.
Boosting modern, state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated spaces for education, socialisation and skills-building, Tiwu Kumangka incorporates the Blackwood Library and Toy Library as well as exciting new community spaces, a workshop area for learning, gallery space and digital lounge.
New name for Blackwood Community Hub
Tiwu Kumangka is the new name for the Blackwood Community Hub, symbolising 'Return of the Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo' in Kaurna. Tiwu means Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo and Kumangka is coming together. It is pronounced Tiwu = Tee-woo and Kumangka = Ga - mung - ga.
The name was endorsed by the City of Mitcham Council in February 2023 following extensive consultation with Kaurna representatives and the community.
The name incorporates the word Kumangka (coming together) and Tiwu (Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo) to represent the return of the vulnerable cockatoo after increased sightings in the Blackwood area.
Construction update
Recent works include the completion of brickwork, power connection and installation of joinery, cement planters, retractable doors and metal and blackbutt door frames. Internal painting is under way, along with paving and light fitting.
The North West Car park at the corner of Edward and Waite Street features permeable pavers that allow stormwater to soak into the verges, boosting the growth of new trees and native grasses planted at the site, and reducing the ‘urban heat island’ effect.
A water tank has been installed beneath the Young Street car park to capture stormwater from the car park and slow down the flow to the surrounding reserve.
Fencing and signage has been installed at the site of the Hub in Waite Street and the former Blackwood Community Centre has been demolished.
Onsite fencing is in place ahead of construction. Kaurna representatives have been on site to observe excavation as cultural monitors.
The two-storey Tiwu Kumangka, with views over Waite Street Reserve, will offer a public library, toilets, children's areas and an integrated toy library on the ground floor. Exciting new spaces and services on the second floor include a community kitchen, outdoor seating area, gallery space, community meeting rooms, maker space and digital lounges. In addition, the final design will also include a second lift and permeable paving at the Young Street car park. It is anticipated to be completed by mid-2023.
The project is set to revitalise the Blackwood Centre, with the Hub and Waite Street Reserve to be linked to Shepherds Hill Road by a new north-south pedestrian walkway. A final stage of the project will be to secure funding to improve and upgrade both Waite Street Reserve and Young Street.
Take a look at the exciting fly through below!
The City of Mitcham Blackwood Community Hub is supported by the:
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications
and
State Government’s Local Government Infrastructure Partnership Program.
A new era for Blackwood
The Blackwood Community Hub (Tiwu Kumangka) was launched with an official sod turning ceremony at the Waite Street site. Senator for South Australia Andrew McLachlan CSC and Member for Waite Sam Duluk MP joined City of Mitcham Mayor Dr Heather Holmes-Ross to mark the opening of the project, which is set to be completed by mid-2023.
Speaking at the launch, Senator McLachlan said the development would be a “huge win” for the local community. “This project will ensure the Blackwood community has access to modern, state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated spaces for education, socialisation and skills-building, now and into the future,” he said. “The construction and ongoing operation of this $12 million facility will also provide a range of economic benefits to the City of Mitcham.”
The launch follows the sale of land in Young Street on the western side of Drakes Supermarket to pave the way for the creation of a walkway from Waite Street Reserve to the central carpark in Blackwood.
“This marks an exciting period for the next 12 months that will ultimately result in a facility that will spark economic activity and provide educational, recreational, cultural and social services and resources to the community,” Mayor Dr Holmes-Ross said. Dr Holmes-Ross said this strategic walkway, along with improved streetscaping and parking on Young Street, would create local jobs and attract further new investment in the Blackwood precinct. “The sale of this land will open up the Centre by creating a new north-south pedestrian link from Waite Street Reserve, through the central car parking area, to Shepherds Hill Road,” she said.
The new pedestrian connection will be completed by the new landowner, a local investor, as a condition of the sale contract. The City of Mitcham Blackwood Community Hub is supported by the Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications and the State Government’s Local Government Infrastructure Partnership Program. Development of the new retail shops and the associated walkway, plus improvements to the streetscape and more parking on Young Street will be completed by the end of 2023.
Hub Plans Approved
The Blackwood Community Hub plans have received development approval. The 1,900m2 two-storey building will offer a public library on the ground floor, community facilities on the first floor, and north and south entries that open onto the popular Waite Street Reserve.
The Blackwood Community Hub offers the community exciting new spaces and services including a community kitchen, a ‘maker space’ - a workshop area for learning, outdoor seating area, gallery space and digital lounge.
Traditional services include a range of flexible community meeting rooms/spaces supported by a kitchen servery, public toilets, lounge areas, dedicated children’s and youth areas, an integrated toy library, collection spaces, and information/customer service desk. Administrative, delivery, storage, and processing areas are also included. Additional car parking will be offered.
Council has developed a Community Land Management Plan for Waite Street Reserve, a Cultural Heritage Survey and a report related to tree removals.
All programs, groups and activities at the Blackwood Community Centre have been relocated. The Blackwood Library on Main Road will continue to remain open until the Hub is operational. Once construction is complete, library services at Blackwood will relocate to the new building.
The $12 million budget is supported by funding of $5 million committed by the Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, and $3.5 million under a State Government Local Government Infrastructure Grant.
It is anticipated that the project will provide 100 full time jobs during construction, and contribute to an economic renewal for the region, reinvigorating the provision of events and visitation to the area.
City of Mitcham Mayor Dr Heather Holmes-Ross said, “I am excited to see Council deliver on Mitcham’s vision to create a vibrant community precinct in the heart of Blackwood.”
“I believe this project will be a catalyst for investment and change in this growing hills community,” she said. “This is an exciting time for Blackwood and the City of Mitcham and I look forward to watching this community space take shape in the months ahead.”
