NSW PCYC and Dubbo Regional Council call for Western Sports Hub funding lifeline

Plans for a regional sports hub bit the dust after locals waited seven years for the doors to open. Now they are asking for one last chance to get the project off the ground.

Hale Gordon, Jazzy Gordon, Tatum Moore and Dubbo Mayor Josh Black visit NSW Parliament to plead their case. Picture: Rohan Kelly

The PCYC, Dubbo Council and local leaders have travelled to parliament to plead with the Minns government to revive their regional sports hub after $33m was pulled from the project, leaving the central west back at square one after they waited seven years for the new facility.

Plans for the PCYC Western NSW Sports Hub were axed in December after Regional NSW Minister Tara Moriarty announced it was “no longer viable” to build the facility following multiple delays, scope revisions and cost-blow outs, with the project ballooning from $4m to $48.6m since funds were first committed by the former Liberal Government in 2018.

NSW PCYC chief executive officer Ben Hobby, Dubbo Regional Council Mayor Josh Black, fellow Dubbo locals and sporting representatives came to parliament this week to “lobby as many members as we can” to reinstate the funding.

They claim the sports hub could go ahead at the old Sportsworld instead, purchased by NSW PCYC for $2.5m in January.

Although Dubbo Council previously withdrew its support for the project in 2020 due to potential “cost overruns,” Mr Black said the new site could save the sports hub.

“This is a good sound project that will have fantastic outcomes for the whole region and its only seven minutes away from the original site, with the same deliverables, same outcomes, for the same community and the same pot of money,” he said.

NSW PCYC put forward a variation proposal in September to build the centre at the new location within the allocated budget, which would deliver six courts, four indoor cricket pitches and gymnastics space all within 100m of three schools.

The proposal came after tenders to build the hub at the previous Charles Sturt University campus site were plagued with infrastructure issues and mismanagement, blowing costs out to an estimated $70m.

However, Ms Moriarty rejected the proposal, saying it would not meet grant guidelines.

Ms Moriarty later told parliament the “phantom project did not exist” and funds would be best spent on other projects.

Dubbo father Hale Gordon, 41, said he wanted answers about where the withdrawn millions will go instead if he has to continue driving his daughter, NSW Basketball athlete Jazzy Gordon, 15, hours away to towns such as Orange and Griffith for games.

“Since she was seven-years-old Jazzy has never played for her town in Dubbo, she has never had a home game, we’ve had to travel for everything,” Mr Gordon said.

The proposal for the PCYC Western Sports NSW Hub at the new Sportsworld site. Picture: Supplied

“The government sees this as a complete change of project, even though the goal remains the same – to create a sports hub to address not only social issues but logistic issues for players to participate and perform at high levels.”

Dubbo Aboriginal community representative Tatum Moore, 37, said the community was desperate for the new PCYC facility to create opportunities and help reduce youth crime.

“We just want better for our kids and their future,” Ms Moore said.

Ms Moriarty said funding could not be reinstated, but did not rule out a sports hub for Dubbo if a new proposal was developed and submitted under another funding program.

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Originally published as NSW PCYC and Dubbo Regional Council call for Western Sports Hub funding lifeline