The Fyles Government has finally announced a location for a proposed new youth hub in the northern suburbs that it says will provide much needed services for youths and “keep young people engaged and off the streets”.

The jointly funded hub will be constructed at the old Casuarina Fire Station, the government announced on Friday, not far from where the old Shak Youth Hub was located.

“We’ve been without a dedicated facility since the closure last year of The Shak, not far from this new location, and this centre will be an absolute asset to the northern suburbs,” Minister for Youth Lauren Moss said.

The project, funded by the Territory and Federal Labor Governments, will be patterned after the Palmerston Youth Centre – a collaboration between the Department of Territory Families, the City of Palmerston, and non-government service providers – which has proven successful in keeping young Territorians occupied and off the streets.

“The Palmerston model has shown us how we can support our young people while also benefiting the local community, and it’s a model we’ll apply to this new facility,” Ms Moss said.

The new centre at Casuarina is easily accessible to young people and is located near public transport, she added.

The NT Government announced $6 million for the new youth centre in this year’s budget, that will see $400,000 allocated this year with ongoing annual operational funding of $1.5 million over the next three years.

It was unclear how much the Federal Labor Government would be contributing to the centre.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Local Government Catherine King said in a statement that the Federal Government wants “to deliver projects that will have a lasting impact, especially those in remote and regional areas…This project is investing in the future of our young people with a view that the whole community will benefit.”

Public consultation will now be done from December to January that will inform the design of the building, and its activities and support programs.

“We want to provide a safe space with trusted adults, giving young people the opportunity to develop life skills, to build resilience and to access support services if they need them,” Federal Member for Solomon, Luke Gosling said.