Brewarrina Shire will get $10 million from the federal government to build a new sports centre and youth hub. 

The Brewarrina PCYC Youth Hub and Indoor Sports Centre will have a community gymnasium, basketball and netball court, boxing facilities and general community space, according to the council's General Manager, David Kirby. 

He said the council also will contribute half a million dollars to the "hybrid facility," which will be built on Bre's main street, Bathurst Street, and replace the old centre on Young Street. 

"Probably the best comparison I can use to our current youth centre is it looks more like a shearing shed than a youth centre," Mr Kirby said. 

"So, having the opportunity to bring infrastructure such as this into the community, and getting to spend $10 million in doing it, will ensure that we have a state-of-the-art facility that can cater for the whole community. 

"I'm sure our community's going to be a much better place for it."   

The federal government announced the funding on 16 May as part of the Growing Regions Program, which awards between $500 000 and $15 million to help local governments and non-profits to deliver infrastructure projects in rural and regional areas. 

The centre could also serve as the base for a Brewarrina branch of the Police Citizens Youth Clubs.  

"At this stage, we're still working through the final details with the PCYC in terms of the management of the facility," Mr Kirby said. 

"That'll come at a later date, but obviously the main thing for us is ensuring that it maintains community ownership and obviously that they have the greatest input into the future use of the facility."  

Mr Kirby said Brewarrina Shire will look at pre-existing design templates, tailored to local needs, to speed up the facility's initial planning and approval stage. IMAGE: Wikipedia

Brewarrina Local Aboriginal Land Council CEO John Reidy he was "exuberant" over the announcement. 

"Being a health and fitness fanatic, not having a fitness centre and fitness in infrastructure in the community was a real disappointment," Mr Reidy said. 

"We've been connecting with multiple players over the years trying to get some really good assets for our youth. 

"As places like Walgett and Bourke have it, we've always felt left out, so to now have some health and fitness infrastructure, potentially a PCYC, it's very exciting."  

Mr Kirby said Brewarrina Shire will still make use of the old youth centre. 

"At the moment, we actually lease half the space out to different community organisations." 

"So, we're obviously talking to some of those stakeholders and looking at what their needs are moving forward and the potential to keep utilising that space. 

"There definitely wont be any sheep being shorn in there." 

Brewarrina Shire Council's General Manager David Kirby

Federal government senator for New South Wales, Deborah O’Neill, said project applicants for funding were selected on merit.  

“Each of these projects was assessed through a merits-based process initially involving Senators and Members from across the parliament, and then was further assessed by the Department which determined the final successful bids," Ms O'Neil said.  

“No NSW representatives were involved in assessing the projects in our own state, because Labor knows that probity standards matter to Australian taxpayers. 

“Each of these projects will bring significant benefits for these communities, making a real difference for people in Moree, Brewarrina, Narrabri, Caroona, Gunnedah, Dubbo and surrounding communities."