Terry Young (Longman, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

In 1982, the Caboolture PCYC that we've all come to know and love was opened on Toovey Street. For more than 40 years this building has been home to programs and activities like youth development, crime prevention and community engagement through low-cost gymnastics, boxing, volleyball, trampolining and the opportunity for our youth to engage with the Queensland Police Service in a low-stake environment. More recently, services extended to include after-school care, free driving lessons for disadvantaged young people and group fitness classes for over 50s. Because of these programs, the PCYC has played a role in shaping the lives of our local youth. In fact, I can recall taking my own kids there during the 1990s and early 2000s, particularly to blue light discos, when Sergeant Dale Hennessey was in charge. I still have the sounds of 'MMMBop' by Hanson and 'Nutbush' ringing in my ears nearly 30 years later!

The support provided by the PCYC was a staple in the lives of many locals, and I have personally seen the positive impact that it has had on my own kids. Yet, as the years passed, it became increasingly obvious that this facility was no longer suitable for our growing region. As many locals will know, the building suffers from flooding issues, which sometimes disrupts services. Furthermore, its location on the outskirts of Caboolture, in an area with limited transport options and proximity to extensive bushland, was a deterrent for many would-be members.

So, after 40 years, the time came to say goodbye to the Toovey Street facility. In 2019, when I was first elected, the officer in charge of the Caboolture police station   , the legendary Mick Brady, was my first appointment. Mick, in no uncertain terms, made me aware of the PCYC's ambitious plan to build a new state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Caboolture on King Street. The initial bill cost was set at $11½ million, and it soon became clear that this would need to be a joint project between all three levels of government if we were ever going to get it across the line. Mick was never going to leave me alone until there was federal funding forthcoming, so the journey of advocating for this facility began.

Over the years, due to circumstances like COVID, the initial figure would change—and not downwards. With the support of the community, I was able to push for funding. We reached our target of $5 million through the then coalition government's Community Development Grants Program. This, combined with state government and council funding, with moneys from the PCYC themselves, meant that after years of dreaming this dream was about to become reality.

This new building, which is conveniently placed next to the Caboolture police station and directly behind a serviced bus stop, features a 24/7 gym, a purpose-built gymnastics facility, a dedicated youth hub, multipurpose recreational areas, an outdoor basketball court and, as I'm sure anyone who has ever visited the old facility can appreciate, dedicated parking. No more parking in the mud and dust!

More than 1,000 local families were already members at the old building, and this is expected to double over the next few years in one of Australia's fastest-growing communities. In fact, with the early opening of the 24/7 gym just days ago, we're already seeing new faces. The gym members have already expressed positive reviews, and many of them have had an early glimpse at the rest of the building, which officially opens on Thursday 26 February this year.

The Caboolture PCYC team has changed lives for more than 40 years, and I know they will continue to do so for many more. In the words of the PCYC, 'When our young people thrive, so do our communities.' I very much look forward to seeing the impact this new facility will have on our region going forward, particularly as we edge closer to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. I know that our hardworking program manager, Sergeant Mark Haestier, is super excited, and I know he will achieve even greater outcomes for our community than he does already now he has this wonderful new, modern facility. As a bonus, the old facility is being refurbed by the council, which will benefit local organisations such as Spiders Boxing Club, the U3A and the local men's shed.

I'm glad that the federal and state governments and the local council were all able to work together on this project. It would not have been possible without their cooperation. This facility is a testament to what can be achieved when we put people before politics.

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