Lake Macquarie CRU Opening

The Australian Government provided $5M in funding to the project, to enable an extra 208 campers to stay overnight at the Lake Mac Outdoor Recreation Centre at any one time. The redeveloped centre will create a vibrant community hub to serve the region’s schools, community groups, sporting groups and churches by providing camping and conferencing accommodation, modern meeting spaces and a wide range of outdoor recreation facilities.

• The Australian Government committed $5,000,000 to the $21,118,183 project. 

• The project was funded under the $841 million Building Better Regions Fund.

• The Crusader Union of Australia provided $16,118,183 toward the project.

• The Crusader Union of Australia provided $538,776 of in-kind support toward the project.

• The project has included the following activities:
  • Demolition of existing infrastructure and tree clearing
  • Installation of temporary amenities for existing accommodation
  • Construction of four two-storey buildings in varying configurations with ensuited bedrooms and small meeting rooms
  • Construction of a dining hall and commercial kitchen that can be divided into smaller spaces including male, female and all access amenities, lounge rooms and under croft area
  • Development of an open recreation space for activities including a beach volleyball court, archery facility, ropes course and abseiling/rock climbing tower.
  • Construction of a car park consisting of 58 car bays
  • Connection to services including power, water, sewerage and telecommunications – Installation of site security
  • Completion of landscaping and pathways

• The Lake Mac Outdoor Recreation Centre Redevelopment (Stage 1A) forms part of a larger project that includes additional accommodation buildings, plus the instillation of a pool and gym and improved campgrounds.

• The Crusader Union of Australia has provided camps for children and young people across New South Wales since 1930 at facilities which they either own or lease. The Lake Mac project has seen the redevelopment of an already existing Crusader Union of Australia site.

• The project transforms the outdated, inadequate facilities at Lake Mac into a modern and accessible, 300+ bed community hub.

• The project will provide economic benefits by:
  • Continuing to generate employment opportunities both during the construction phase and within the centre itself
  • Utilising local suppliers and contractors
  • Supporting the local construction industry
  • Increasing the overnight spend of visitors
  • Increasing the need and consumption of locally produced goods.

• The project will provide social benefits by:
  • Improving the experience for users of the new facility, including upgrading facilities to allow access for people with limited mobility
  • Running Indigenous education programs, highlighting local Indigenous cultural heritage
  • Providing onsite activities that encourage community activity such as bushwalking, abseiling, rock climbing, and mountain biking and orienteering
  • Increasing community interaction opportunities for people with disabilities by improving disability access measures
  • Increasing the number of volunteering and mentoring training opportunities.

• It is planned that the full Lake Mac Outdoor Recreation Centre redevelopment will benefit approximately 25,000 people per year through the provision of an accessible regional facility for school, community, sporting and church groups to run their socially beneficial programs.

The project supported 43 jobs during construction and it creates another 15 ongoing jobs.