Dubbo Regional Council Mayor Josh Black has welcomed $15.3 million joint funding from the NSW Labor Government and PCYC to upgrade Dubbo's PCYC Youth Sports Centre, saying he hoped it was just the start.
The announcement was made in Dubbo on Monday by Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty and PCYC NSW CEO Ben Hobby at the Dubbo Sports World.
The funding package consists of $10.4 million from the Regional Development Trust Fund and $4.9 million from the PCYC.
The funding will deliver major renovations to PCYC Dubbo Sports World including upgrades to the two existing sports halls to meet specification standards for multi-sport competitions and new front of house development which included amenities, large youth hub and fitness gym and multi-purpose program rooms.
"This announcement of Stage 1 funding is a great win for the community and a good start to seeing our regional youth receive the same opportunities as their city cousins," Clr Black said.
"However, we need to see further funding coming through over the coming months and years to build the four new courts, so our kids don't continue to miss out."
Basketball NSW have been clear that Dubbo is unable to host regional basketball leagues because of the minimum five-court requirement for facilities.
"This new amount of funding will provide three multi-courts, but that's still not enough for us to be considered for a regional competition, so still our kids will be missing out."
DRC has formed a Dubbo Regional Indoor Sports Hub Working Party who will meet and lobby for further funding to see the full project realised.
"The Indoor Sports Hub will be a transformative infrastructure, especially for our youth.
"It's all about meeting the region's growing needs for inclusive sport, youth engagement and social wellbeing and we continue to be committed to making that happen," Clr Black said.
Council is currently running a YourSay page calling on residents who travel for sport to tell their story. Residents can let us know why the Indoor Sports Hub is important to them by visiting https://yoursay.dubbo.nsw.gov.au/sports-hub and following the project.
