An official sod-turning has occurred to mark start of construction on a new $23 million Police Citizen's Youth Club (PCYC) on Crown land at Wagga Wagga.
The PCYC club is being funded with $10 million from the NSW Government, $10 million from the Federal Government, and $3 million from Wagga Wagga City Council.
The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment - Crown Lands has allocated 7,645 square metres of Crown land for the club adjacent to Wagga Wagga's CBD, at the corner of Fitzhardinge St and the Sturt Highway.
The new environmentally-friendly club will strike a balance between maintaining PCYC traditions and embracing the 21st century with tech-based activities.
The multi-function facility will include four sport courts, conference facilities, a 60-person after school care centre, and office space to provide a modern indoor regional sports and cultural hub to service the city and wider region.
The complex will cater for a range of sporting and recreational activities to keep the community active and healthy, including basketball, netball, volleyball, martial arts, boxing, dance and yoga.
Parkour, photography, pilates, coding, rock climbing and creative arts and film workshops will also be on offer.
PCYC CEO Dominic Teakle said the new club would be a proud community centrepiece.
"The current PCYC in Gurwood Street was built in 1963 and was ageing, in a poor location and has been constrained by a lack of space and facilities, which has prevented it from providing a full suite of services and meeting population demands," Mr Teakle said.
"This new centralised facility has better public transport links, will deliver more health and social benefits for the community and allow the region to host major indoor sports and cultural events."
Meanwhile, work is continuing on construction of a new $7.5 million PCYC on Crown land at Walgett, as part of a joint initiative between the NSW Government, PCYC NSW and Walgett Shire Council.
Funding is being provided by the NSW Government, with contributions from Regional NSW and the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment – Crown Lands, and $450,000 from Walgett Shire Council.
Crown Lands has further assisted by appointing PCYC NSW as the Crown Land Manager for two reserves over 3,500 square metres, which have been dedicated for public recreation on the corner Dewhurst and Fox Streets in Walgett.
The 1,800-square metre PCYC building will include an indoor multi-purpose sports court for basketball, netball, futsal, badminton, and volleyball; a multi-purpose space for gymnastics, trampolining, climbing, ninja monkey bars, and parkour; a gym with weights; a youth hub area; and rainwater harvesting.
Sod turning work is underway on the new $23 million PCYC on Crown land at Wagga Wagga
