Uniting Place Warwick Opens

On Monday 15th September, the sounds of bagpipes rang through the crisp air of the Southern Downs as church and community gathered for the opening of Uniting Place Warwick. This highly anticipated project is the latest affordable housing build by the Uniting Church for Queenslanders in need.

Uniting Place Warwick was brought to life by the Warwick, Killarney and Freestone Uniting Church congregations who saw a need in their community and asked themselves, "what do we have that we can use to help?". They had land and a congregation of skilled and passionate people.
Their mission was made possible with the help of Regional Housing Limited, the Queensland Government Department of Housing, the Queensland Synod and their community.

Officially opened by our General Secretary Rev Dr Adam McIntosh, the ceremony included a ribbon cutting, the planting of an olive tree, and words of gratitude from representatives from the many parties involved in bringing this project together.

Speakers included:

• Brad Breck, Church Council Chair
• Rev Ansie Liebenberg, Lead Minister Warwick, Killarney and Freestone Uniting Church
• Rev Dr Adam McIntosh, General Secretary Uniting Church in Queensland Synod
• Karin Wiedeman, Queensland Synod Property Development Manager
• Ian Darnell, Building designer and church council member
• Ray Browne, Church council member and assistant project manager
• Laurie Colledge, General Manager, Active Built
• Hannah Scott, Chief Executive Officer, Regional Housing Limited
• Yvette Wirken, Commercial Project Director , Queensland Government Department of Housing, Local Government Planning and Public Works

The project was a testament to what can be achieved when church, government and community can achieve when they pool their resources together towards a common goal.

Uniting Place Warwick is not the first community service project championed by this congregation; Willow Tree 37 is a Women's support centre that provides critical, urgent and ongoing assistance to vulnerable women, sits beside the church hall on Guy Street, Warwick.
This land now also hosts Uniting Place Warwick, a community centre and ten new homes that can house up to twenty people currently living in crisis. The 4 2 bedroom and 6 1 bedroom units designed by Ian Darnell and immaculately constructed by Active Built are all fit with solar panels and water tanks to reduce costs of living.

"This opening is more than a milestone; it is a testament to what can happen when faith is put into action, when a community comes together for a shared purpose, and when hope is given hands and feet." said Rev Ansie Liebenberg. "The new homes will offer safety, dignity, and a fresh start for individuals and families in need across Warwick, Killarney, and Freestone. We are humbled and grateful to see our prayers answered and our mission made real for the next generation.”

Regional Housing Limited will provide ongoing support by managing all applications and tenancies for the homes.

The congregation is not finished with their mission yet. On the 7th of December, four more units will as Uniting Place Killarney.