Youth keen to have say in design of new town centre

Jayme Anderson has been amazed at the reponse from local youth to contribute to a new Bulls town centre. PHOTO/LIN FERGUSON

Bulls community co-ordinator Jayme Anderson is keen to see what the town's youth will come up with when they present their take on design ideas for the new town centre.

"It's such a great opportunity for them to be involved and they are all so keen," says Miss Anderson who is employed by the Bulls and District Community Trust.

In October, she spoke to students at the three secondary schools in the district and youth groups in the town.

Just because secondary school age youth have to leave town to go to college, it doesn't mean they can't have input into their community, she says.

And the amount of interest has amazed her. She said 260 people aged from 12 to 24 in Bulls put up their hands and said they wanted to have a say in the new design.

Ministry of Youth Development has funded the project for $5000.

"I think it is fantastic because I know young people can come up with great and some very creative ideas. Some young people might be quiet and not say much but you can guarantee they have some ideas well worth looking at."

Recently, Massey University students studying town planning had presented a book with their ideas, plans and drawings for a new town centre which was where the idea for local youth to be involved came from.

"I think it's important to sustain our young people ... they are the future generation here."

The next meeting to discuss progress will be at the Bulls Town Hall on November 28 at 5pm.