Miles Government investing $15 million to support new PCYC at Caloundra

JOINT STATEMENT
  • $15 million for new Caloundra PCYC in the suburb of Aura
  • Aura is a new suburb and once fully established will have a population of approximately 50,000 people
  • The suburb has a mixed demographic including young families with children that will benefit from a PCYC

The Miles Government will invest $15 million to support a new PCYC facility in the suburb of Aura on the southern end of the Sunshine Coast.

Aura is a new suburb and once fully established will have a population of approximately 50,000 people.

The suburb has a mixed demographic including young families with children that will benefit from a PCYC.

This is about planning for the future.

The Member for Caloundra, Jason Hunt, has played a key role in making this project a reality.

Based on advice from the Queensland Police Service, the Miles Government has decided this is a worthy project for the people of this fast growing area.

PCYC currently has only one club on the Sunshine Coast, located at Nambour.

As a consequence PCYC services are not delivered to Caloundra or the surrounding new growth suburbs.

The establishment of a new club at Aura would enable the Queensland Police Service and PCYC to deliver social programs to young people to ensure they are provided with social programs that have a proven track record in other locations.

Quotes attributable to Premier Steven Miles:

“Caloundra is a growing region with a number of young families who will directly benefit from the community connections a PCYC offers.

“PCYC facilities have a great tradition of providing the supports and activities that help young people develop self-esteem and the social skills they need to lead a productive life.

“In turn, young Queenslanders remain connected and engaged, rather than being drawn into a culture of offending.

“As the Sunshine Coast grows, it’s important these facilities are available in the south which we know is a huge growth corridor.”

Quotes attributable to Police Minister Mark Ryan:

“It’s important that we put the right infrastructure in growth areas, and I want to congratulate Jason Hunt for making sure that the people of Aura will have a great facility for their children to enjoy.

“There can be no better ambition than to give our young people a good start in life, and having a PCYC facility in this fast growing area will help support the young people in the area to develop the life skills they will need for the future.”

Quotes attributable to Caloundra MP Jason Hunt:

“This is a great outcome for my community.

“PCYC has a proven track record of delivering for young people, giving them the supports and active programs that help young people develop pride in themselves.

“I advocated strongly for this facility and I want to thank the Premier and the Police Minister for listening to my advocacy and now acting on it.”

Quotes attributable to PCYC CEO Phil Schultz:

“We are excited to be part of the development of Young People in the Aura community and thank Minister Ryan and the Miles Government for this opportunity”.

“PCYC AURA will support the local community providing a purpose-built home for PCYC’s youth development programs, sport, recreation and community run activities”.

“In addition, the new club will enable us to offer greater youth engagement opportunities through programs such as the youth diversionary program Drop In, the Youth Leadership Team for young leaders, as well as Popular After Dark recreation-based program and School based crime prevention and engagement programs run by PCYC serving Police officer”.

/Public Release. View in full here.