Dubbo Regional Council Mayor Josh Black has led a delegation to State Parliament in Sydney as the fight continues to get back funding for the Dubbo Indoor Sports Hub.
Clr Black travelled to parliament on Wednesday, 19 February with key stakeholders from across the community to speak with ministers and other politicians about the need for the project in Dubbo.
“This delegation to State Parliament was the next step in the campaign to see the funding reinstated to this very important project. The removal of this funding isn't just bad for the youth of Dubbo but the wider western region more broadly, and greatly impacts the children who were looking forward to using this centre,” Clr Black said.
“Currently we have children and their parents travelling for hours across the state to play and train, or simply not even participating at all. By having this centre built in Dubbo it would have removed some of the inequality our children experience when comparing them to their city counterparts.
“But the Minister for Regional and Western NSW ripped away the funding for the Sports Hub and new PCYC. Now, we need the Premier Chris Minns to step in and have that money directed back into this very important project,” Clr Black said.
Clr Black said they spoke to a wide range of politicians from across the political spectrum allowing them to hear firsthand what the removal of funding has done to the community.
“As part of the delegation the CEOs of PCYC NSW, Basketball NSW, Netball NSW and Gymnastics NSW joined us in Sydney, highlighting the impact that such a facility would have on Western NSW.
“We also had a leader from the local First Nations community, Tatum Moore to speak about how this development will help the region, as well as Jazzy Gordon who has played representative basketball, and her dad Hale Gordon, to speak on their experiences and how such a sports hub could change the lives of kids in the western region.”
Clr Black said the PCYC’s decision to purchase Dubbo Sports World showed their commitment to Western NSW, and implored the Government to also support youth in the western area.
“We hear about the need for diversionary programs for youth at risk of falling into a life of crime - well there's a project ready to go in Dubbo, all that's needed is for the Government to put the money back into that project. The PCYC understands the importance of this critical infrastructure. This is an equity issue. Postcode shouldn’t dictate opportunity. The NSW Government needs to show they also understand that Western NSW is just as important as the rest of the state by investing in the future of regional communities.
“There is still the opportunity for the government to fund and build the Sports Hub and we are calling on the NSW Government to recommit the promised funding to deliver important outcomes for our communities,” Clr Black said.