Government to sell Noalimba Accommodation and Conference Centre

18/2/02
The Government will sell the Noalimba Accommodation and Conference Centre in Bateman, Sport and Recreation Minister Alan Carpenter announced today.
Mr Carpenter said the former migrant hostel, built in the 1960s, was in a run-down state with fewer and fewer people using it.
"Noalimba is well past its use-by date and needs more than $6million in upgrades to bring it up to minimum industry standards," he said.
"It provides beds and some conference rooms but has no sport and recreation facilities."
Mr Carpenter said proceeds of the sale would go towards the long awaited upgrading of the Department of Sport and Recreation's other camps.
"We want to continue to provide comfortable, convenient and low cost accommodation at these camps for school and sporting groups, families and community groups," he said.
"The Department of Sport and Recreation's other camps are in bush settings that provide recreational and physical activity programs.
"However, Noalimba is purely an accommodation and conference facility in the middle of a suburban area."
Mr Carpenter said selling Noalimba and upgrading the other camps was the best solution.
"The number of people using Noalimba has been declining since 1989 and the facility runs at a loss," he said.
"It makes sense to put our energy into upgrading our other camps to increase the recreational and education experience of community groups, including better accommodation, dining and conference areas."
The Minister said the Government aimed to have the sale - estimated to be up to $12million - completed by November, and all bookings would be honoured until late October.
In the event of a natural or other emergency, the Department of Sport and Recreation would maintain its commitment to providing emergency accommodation at its other camps, together with the many other Commonwealth, commercial and community facilities available.
Mr Carpenter said staff at Noalimba were being advised and the Department of Sport and Recreation was working to ensure the best possible future for the small number of employees.
Minister's office: 9213 6800