General News
4 June, 2025
PCYC centre gets push from council
MAREEBA PCYC has been given just over a year and a half to fund and build a new centre in Constance Street, following Mareeba Shire Council’s in-principal approval of a 30-year peppercorn lease.
At its recent meeting, council agreed to offer the lease at 68-70 Constance St provided the new centre was built by the end of 2026. In the meantime, the PCYC has had its current lease at 136 Walsh Street renewed until then.
If the PCYC was unable to secure further funding, or build the centre by 31 December 2026, the provisional lease offer would lapse.
A peppercorn lease is where the rent is a symbolic amount, such as one peppercorn annually, to fulfill legal requirements for a valid contract.
The push for action on the new centre proposal comes after almost two years since the State Government announced seed funding of $5 million for the PCYC in 2023.
At the time, PCYC chief executive officer Phil Schultz advised the organisation would begin work with Mareeba Shire Council to identify suitable sites.
“The new club will be designed with an emphasis on providing a purpose-built space for the delivery of youth programs, Drop In and After Dark activities,” Mr Schultz had said.
A year later, negotiations were “still ongoing” to find a site, and a meeting was scheduled for August 2024, according to a PCYC spokesperson.
In discussing the lease proposal last week, council said that by granting an “in-principle” site approval to the Mareeba PCYC, the organisation could now get on with leveraging other grants to help build the facility.
“It’s for the youth of our community and it can’t come soon enough,” Mayor Angela Toppin said.
“Our PCYC does a massive job in helping our youth at risk.”
Cr Lenore Wyatt said she was pleased to see a timeline in place, because there “had to be some movement”.
Council was told the two properties in Constance Street were freehold blocks in the CBD area, which, if put on the market, would “get a very good price”.
But it was opting to commit them to a very long-term lease, which would help relieve the pressure of youth engagement and youth crime issues in the community.
“I think one of the difficulties with youth crime and engagement for a council is the limitation to our powers,” Cr Amy Braes said.
“We often say we are doing everything ‘within our powers’ to contribute to better outcomes in our community and this is one of the levers we can pull.”
The PCYC would continue to operate at its current address in Walsh Steet after council approved a lease renewal back-dated from 29 January 2025 to 31 December 2026.
In a letter submitted to council last month and included in the meeting’s agenda, the PCYC said it could confirm interest in Lots 16 and 17 Constance St, and had engaged an architect and completed an initial consultation of building requirements. A concept floor plan was being created which would allow for a cost estimate before 30 June.
PCYC said it would “make every effort to complete a new build within this timeframe”, but given the entire building process – including approvals, tendering and construction during wet season, as well as the potential need to apply for additional funding – the association may need extended building time, and asked that the interim lease be extended accordingly.
“We understand that council would need to see evidence of progression to enable this and would invite a council representative to be part of the Project Control Group. This would provide council with a regular, monthly overview of the project’s progress.
“We would also be open to this continued arrangement being subject to meeting agreed project milestones.”
