General News
21 October, 2026
PCYC hangs on to lease
WITH time running out on a land lease deadline for the construction of a new Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) facility in Constance Street, Mareeba Shire Council has provided a six-month reprieve for the project, first announced more than three years ago.
Mareeba Shire Mayor Angela Toppin said the PCYC would continue to receive council support.
“Preparation for the project has continued behind the scenes, with PCYC progressing towards a construction commencement date,” Mayor Toppin said.
“We have been informed that construction is planned to start this month and is scheduled for completion by June next year.
“Council is fully supportive of this project, and we are working with the PCYC project team to do what we can to help ensure this facility is delivered for our community.”
News of the proposed facility was first announced in 2023 following a highly publicised state government grant of $5 million in seed funding.
However, after more than a year of silence on the project’s progress, including where it would be built, negotiations re-emerged in May last year, with the Constance Street site identified. By July, PCYC provided draft construction plans to council.
In November last year, council moved to support an “in-principle” agreement to grant a freehold lease to PCYC for the site for 30 years.
The approval included stipulations that the PCYC would have sufficient funds to build and operate the facility and that it would ensure the building was completed by the end of 2026; otherwise, the lease offer would lapse.
The construction plans outlined indoor and outdoor sports areas, including for pickleball and basketball.
The club would include a “youth space”, offices, a car park and would “act as a social club ... with a youth focus”.
PCYC is still operating at its current premises at 136 Walsh Street.
Mayor Toppin said the new facility would provide significant benefits for local young people and families.
“The new PCYC facility will help the organisation deliver vital services and programs for young people in our community,” she said.
A spokesperson for PCYC QLD said work for the new PCYC Mareeba was “well underway” with a tender for the construction due to be awarded ahead of the council deadline of 31 December.
“PCYC looks forward to delivering the new space, which ... is set to open in 2027,” the spokesperson said.
