It has been a month of emotions for Wagga's PCYC team.
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An unsuccessful bid for funding under the Building Better Regions Fund left the team crestfallen in March.
But it became a prelude to last Friday's announcement by Deputy Prime Minister and Riverina MP Michael McCormack. Budgeted under the Community Developments Grant, the federal $10 million is the final piece of the puzzle towards the PCYC's redevelopment.
Having grown out of its Gurwood Street complex up to 15 years ago, it has been a long fight with many options exhausted. Even during the announcement, general manager Brett Somerville admitted it was "hard to fathom it finally happening".
Now combined with the state government's commitment of $10 million and Wagga City Council's $3 million, construction can begin on the vacant lot at the corner of Fitzhardinge and Edward streets.
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A commonly proposed problem with the plans is its location. In the centre of the city, it sits far away from its perceived 'clientele'.
"People do say that all the time, but they clearly don't understand what a PCYC does," Mr Somerville said. "They think we're a little kids' jail, we're not.
"Only about 2 per cent of what we do is working with at-risk kids. Some may say that needs to be higher, but that's not for us to decide. We're all about engaging with youth at any age, making sure they never end up falling to bad influences.
"Everything comes through the centre of town, it's much easier to get here."
Describing it as "a bigger, better version of Bolton Park", Mr Somerville said the new hub will include seven brand new basketball courts, double storey 'pod' meetings rooms, offices and a cafe. There will also be an additional double-storey multi-purpose building for conferences and breakout sports. All with a metallic-look facade facing Edward Street.
"When we first worked out the concept, we knew the design would be very important," Mr Somerville said. "This corner gets about 40,000 cars a day. We knew it had to look good. No-one wants to see a box here."
For the past several years, the Gurwood Street complex has registered weekly foot traffic of up to 850. With 40,000 people using the services each year, the PCYC has had to borrow space from clubs, schools and stadiums around the region.
The new complex will have a capacity for 250,000 visitors a year, with the flexibility to host other non-PCYC events.
"With the Holiday Inn going up at the old mill across the road, and then one day when we get the [truck] bypass too, this will be the centre of the universe, at least in Wagga," Mr Somerville said.
"It really will be second to none, in regional NSW anyway."