A NEW committee has been formed to save a community asset, formerly known as the Snowy Mountains Care and Early Learning Centre (SMCELC).

A group of seven Jindabyne residents have gathered to form the new committee in hopes to save the community asset from being stripped of equipment and lost to the public.

The groups secretary, Joan Bird said as a community the group would like to explore the options available and the viability of the centre and building moving forward.

“It is unfortunate that there was no community consultation at the time that the centres closure was announced,” Mrs Bird said.

“However, there is a group of committed residents that would like to explore the option of keeping the association intact to allow for the building to be used for community purposes.”

After the centres closure in July, the Snowy Monaro Regional Council owned building has remained untouched, and the next step is for the current committee to complete an asset stocktake then items will be dispersed and removed from the premises before winding up the association.

Seven members put together a group to form a committee that are willing to take over and explore the options for retaining this community asset and held their first meeting on Tuesday August 13.

The SMCELC was a not-for-profit organisation that opened more than three decades ago by the community, for the community, and generous local businesses and community members have fundraised and donated thousands of dollars over the years.

Mrs Bird said this new group want to explore the continuing use of the community asset, whether it be retained as an alternate childcare centre or a general space for other community groups to gather.

“Whether it’s a space for the Monaro Mobile Preschool to use or other community groups and initiatives, it is still a viable space for the community,” Mrs Bird said.

“We don’t want to see it be stripped bare and Council be left with an empty shell of a building that could be better utilised by the community.”

The group are calling on the current committee to hold an extraordinary general meeting where the community will be allowed to say on what they want to happen to space.

The group’s chairman, Vanessa Purcell said they are exploring the different ways the centre can be utilised by the community as it is a purpose built building and could be used for many different initiatives.

“We have already had quite a bit of interest from people within the community willing to volunteer their time to run sessions and other initiatives which would be amazing to have,” Ms Purcell said.

“If this is successful and we can form a new committee that are passionate about providing service and space for the community we would love to hold a public meeting.

“The meeting will be open to the community, and we could set up a poll and begin the conversation on what people would like the building to be used for.”

Across the road from the centre, John and Doreen McLoughlin have been great supporters of the centre for many years and have donated their funds raised from their Christmas Light display each year.

They are advocates of keeping the centre as a community asset to be used for the community’s best purpose.

A committee member of the new group, Mr McLoughlin said he agrees that the centre is a community asset that shouldn’t be lost and believes it should be kept in community hands.

Mr McLoughlin donated more than $8000 to the SMCELC last year and the funds were not spent before the closure.

“I would like half of the funds to go to the Thredbo Day Care Centre and the other half to go to Matt Trippets Fly Fishing Program for men’s mental health,” Mr McLoughlin said.

“I would be really pleased if the current committee would look favourably on where I request the remaining funds to be allocated.”

Mrs Bird, Ms Purcell and Mr McLoughlin urge the community to get in contact with them if they wish to join the new committee or show their support in keeping the building a community asset for Jindabyne.