MUSWELLBROOK PCYC members and staff were grinning from ear to ear on Monday as PCYC NSW CEO Dominic Teakle officially opened the club’s newly completed car park.
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But, while it looks great – the 2100 square-metre parking lot isn’t just a pretty face.
Complete with 67 spaces, it was designed to minimise landfill waste by stabilising the existing road base, rather than replacing it.
Added features include a high-efficiency LED lighting system, widened entry and exit points, and replaced drainage structure – which will increase storm water management.
Volunteers were included in the process, establishing the landscaping using donated plants.
The improvements – costing more than $300,000 – benefited from a $20,000 state government community building partnerships grant, and $30,000 from local fundraising.
PCYC Muswellbrook manager De-anne Douglas said the process had been nearly three months in the making, involving many years of planning.
“A new car park has been on our list for a long timeand not something that we ever thought we could afford to do,” she said.
“So, with the support that we’ve received from our head office and the local community, it’s now a reality.
“That opportunity to still be able to host the BreastScreen bus and the [Red Cross] blood bus makes a massive difference.
“Not just to us, but to our community, and we are so excited.”
The Upper Hunter Motoring Association has been a longtime supporter of the club, raising more than $136,000 over the past seven years.
So, it made sense when they were the first to cross the threshold following the opening.
The group’s members tested out the newly completed project, giving it their nod of approval.
“Another notable supporter has been BHP Billiton, which gave us two dollars for every dollar its Mt Arthur employees donated to the car park fund,” Ms Douglas said.
PCYC NSW CEO Dominic Teakle said it was a fantastic achievement that had been a long time coming.
“The staff here have been fantastic,” he said, adding that Ms Douglas had led the team well.
“She’s really pulled the team together.
“She’s been here a long time and she lives and breathes Muswellbrook.”
Mr Teakle said the next thing on the radar would likely be gymnastics.
“If gymnastics numbers are anything to go by, I reckon you could have 3-to-400 kids doing gymnastics here and it would be a great thing for Muswellbrook.
“It’s a beautiful community and I just think there’s probably some of these gaps in what kids can do.
“I think if we can get that up and running under a big shed that’d be fantastic.”