More than 50 residents have joined the fight to keep the Slade Campus a community precinct by becoming the first financial members of the Slade Lives Again – Development for Everyone (SLADE) group.
At Sunday’s meeting, attendees were given the opportunity to pay a $10 annual membership fee or to give a donation to the newly-formed group.
The SLADE group wishes to purchase or preferably lease the Slade Campus if the Southern Downs Regional Council gives them the opportunity to do so.
They would then develop the campus further into a community precinct for not only Warwick residents but people from Stanthorpe, Allora, Killarney and other surrounding communities.
The SLADE group plans to hold a public meeting in Stanthorpe to hear local residents’ viewpoints on the campus.
President Ian Perkins said SLADE would now develop their business plan to present to the council on May 3.
“When we started this, it looked like the Slade Campus was going to be knocked down for development. We have now stopped that; I think that’s a major milestone and the community should be congratulated,” Mr Perkins said.
The next public meeting will be held on May 15 at 5pm at Slade Hall.