Lightning Ridge has a new youth drop-in centre after work was completed at the Neighborhood Centre, ready for its official opening on Monday. The room is equipped with a pool table and a table tennis table, which is sure to be a hit with the kids struck by school holiday boredom. "We are opening it at the start of the school holidays to encourage the kids to come in and enjoy the facilities," said Joan Treweeke, chairperson of the Yawarra Meamei Women's Group. The Walgett Shire, BEST Employment and Centrelink all contributed $900 for the project, which has relied on the good nature of local volunteers. "Special thanks to the people who volunteered their time and efforts - Garry and David who started the first initial clearing out of the back room, the shire crew who came in with a jackhammer and shovels, Ged who came in and removed the old pipes, George, Warren, Carl and Rob who came in and did a marvelous job. Also thanks to Ron who painted the back doors, Tim Preston for the posters and to Dr Meg and Lorraine Theimann for their input," Neighborhood Centre co-ordinator Heather Landini said. The centre will alternate between offering pool one week and table tennis the other, and organisers said it would be great to get competitions going among the kids. Mrs Treweeke said it was important to look after the community's youth. "These are our kids and our community and we need to look after them," she said. Ms Landini said there were not too many rules, but the centre would enforce the correct use of the back door to make sure children were not hanging about behind the building. "We won't have too many rules but the back door is one rule that will be adhered to properly," she said. Ms Landini said the opening times of the drop-in centre will be up for consultation. "We really need to see what the youth want," she said.