The Lightning Ridge Home and Community Care Community Centre will provide much-needed office space for all of the HACC service providers in the community, as well as providing the Lightning Ridge community with a place for public meetings and public toilets.

Councillor Joan Treweeke said the community centre would provide Lightning Ridge with facilities other towns in the shire already had.

"This is outstanding opportunity to create a place in Lightning Ridge where community life can be facilitated," she said.

"It will go a long way in addressing some of the problems that are emerging in the town."

The first stage of the centre is a completely self-sustainable and stand-alone construction and is estimated to cost between $500,000 to $600,000.

The Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care recognised eight years ago the need for more adequate office space for the HACC services to help them deliver services to clients and staff and to improve administrative procedures.

The services' accommodation did not meet the needs of the staff or clients, as there were a number of occupational, health and safety issues and lack of privacy for clients.

The department donated a grant of $270,000 to the council for the construction of a community service facility.

Walgett Shire Council put aside a further $135,000 for the project.

Recently the need for more office space for the HACC services became more urgent as the current Home Care lease expires in January 2005.

In making a commitment to build the centre the council now has more opportunity to receive grants from both State and Commonwealth governments for the remainder of the funding.

The community centre would provide consolidation for all the HACC services in the Ridge, including the Home Care Service of NSW, Ngangana Aboriginal Home Care, North West Area Community Options, Meals on Wheels, Neighbour Aid and Community Transport, which are presently spread out across the town.

Extensive community consultation was undertaken to gauge the needs and concerns of the community.

The centre was designed by architect Glen Murcutt, who took into account the community's request for a building that suited both the climate and the diverse needs of a remote, rural and mining community.

The design ensures the involvement of local workers and materials in the building of the project.

Construction on the first stage is expected to start early next year.