Four stage plans for Cowra PCYC

"Our goals is to provide fun, cultural, health and fitness based activities that develop interests, passions and provide pathways to professional employment," PCYC manager Stewart Mead said.

The club hopes to complete the work in four stages over three years, dependent on funding from Council and government sources.

Stage one of the project, which is completed, involved the establishment of a green space and garden at the rear of the club with funding from the NSW government's Community Buillding Partnership grants and Cowra Shire Council.

The work was completed for $70,000. (Comprising $46,000 through CBP, $2,000 in funding from Cowra Shire Council and $20,000 in-kind donation).

Stage two would see the establishment of a BMX pump track and amenity block in the green space with $270,000 in funding applied for from the Stronger Country Community grants. A decision on the application is pending.

Stage 3 involves a stadium upgrade and Vocational Incubator (Indigenous Tourism Enterprise). Funds for this stage would come from Drought Communities Funding $170,000.

A carpark, cafe/giftshop, lighting and any other works not yet completed would be completed in stage 4 with funding applied for under Liquor and Gaming Cat 3 Infrastructure Grant.

Other Infrastructure works planned during the stages include establishing drop-in, homework and training rooms as well as a Maker Space upstairs at Young Road as part of stage 1, funded by Cowra Rotary ($2,000), Club Grant ($2,600), and in-kind donations from Midwest Solar and TLE ($2,000) and Bunnings $3,000).

These works have been funded.

Stage 2b will see airconditioning upgrade for the drop in and homework rooms, Maker Space and training rooms funded through a CBP Grant and In-kind donation ($12,000).

"Within this, we have also been funded for the Outdoor Cinema thanks to the Foundation for Regional Renewal for $40,000," Mr Mead said.

Total forecast expenditure for the works is at least $600,000.

Mr Mead said the aim of the works it have infrastructure that is safe, comfortable, well-presented and fit-for-purpose.

For this to happen he said "we need to return the Young Road Basketball stadium to best practise in terms of safety and comfort".

"We also need to integrate the green space with the Stadium to allow cool air to improve comfort during extreme heat (35 degrees plus).

"The Green space need to be secure so it can be an inclusive space that welcomes and engages all youth and their families and carers and we need to build a sealed BMX pump track surrounding the green space that is available after school and at the weekends for kids and families."

A BMX pump track is a continuous loop of dirt berms and "rollers" that you can ride without pedaling.

A pump track can also be used by skooter and skateboard riders.

The name "pump track" comes from the pumping motion used by the rider's upper and lower body as they ride around the track.

They can be ridden by riders of all ages and skill levels.

Mr Mead said the club wants to build on its current practice of providing fun, cultural, health and fitness based activities that develop interests, passions and also provide pathways to professional employment for Cowra youth.

"To achieve this we are working to re-establish basketball in the town by updating and replacing the stadiums backboards that are out of date and have reached the end of their useful life," he said.

As part of its ambitious plans Mr Mead said "the club also needs to formalise a vocational incubator that comprises formal and informal mentoring."

This would involve a youth-led Indigenous Tourism Enterprise to provide opportunities for young First Australians and a youth-led Entertainment Business (cinema, live music and pizza cafe) operating regular movie and live music nights on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Young kids who come here through our programs can learn about their culture through the work we would be doing and they then communicate what they have learnt to non-indigenous people or even indigenous people.

"We hope to be able to expose the kids to at least eight different careers.

"We're about to have a young guy here as part of capacity building, if he's interested in gardening he can learn gardening.

"He could then move to the next step and the training become more formal.

"If we have kids engaging with our Fit for Life programs in the mornings, where we pick them up from home, bring them to the club, give them breakfast and give them exercise then we've potentially got them for a couple of years and as we engage with them we look to increase and give them expectations.

"We have one guy who wants to work at Dominos, if we have a pizza oven here he can get hands on learning how to make dough, then we he goes for an interview he has more confidence in doing that.

If we can get tourists to come, people will stay in town, stay at the motels and help build the economy.

"If we get one or two busloads of people coming each week to look at our garden it might translate to $100,000 a year to support the economy.

Mr Mead said the club is also looking at nature based capacity building activities for youth with additional needs so they can build confidence and are better able to live independently.