CONSTRUCTION is expected to start before Christmas to expand the Port Macquarie Indoor Stadium without a PCYC.
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Port Macquarie-Hastings Council on Wednesday night awarded a $5.6 million construction tender for the stadium expansion to Ware Building.
The council last month declined to accept revised designs put forward by the PCYC.
A heads of agreement was in place but a lease agreement didn't eventuate.
The PCYC advised that without council's assurance to key PCYC-specified conditions, it would not support the project nor provide any resources to the project.
Project governance, a 20-year lease period, and the need for all stadium users, including Port Macquarie Gymnastics Club, to be PCYC members were among the conditions.
The state government announced a $2.5 million PCYC allocation more than three years ago as part of the stadium project.
PCYC was to contribute $750,000.
The council requested general manager Craig Swift-McNair report to the November council meeting on alternate funding sources.
The federal government has provided $2.8 million to expand the stadium.
Port Macquarie-Hastings mayor Peter Besseling said to secure the federal funding, the council was required to meet certain timeframe targets.
The awarding of the contract was a key milestone.
"We could not delay the awarding of the contract any longer," he said.
Cr Besseling said it was great to move forward with the expansion.
"It brings an end to speculation that the facility will never be built," he said.
The project will expand the indoor stadium to a six court regional facility with the capacity to showcase local, state and national talent across a variety of sports.
PCYC NSW chief executive officer Darren Black said the PCYC was disappointed with the council's response.
"We felt the efforts we made to engage with council were altogether well intentioned in terms of trying to deliver an outcome for Port Macquarie," he said.
The PCYC has vowed not to give up on establishing a club in Port Macquarie.
Mr Black confirmed the PCYC would pursue alternative options.
"The first attempt on a stadium upgrade project with council, we haven't been able to achieve that," he said. "It doesn't mean PCYC won't try other avenues to establish a PCYC in Port Macquarie."
Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams said if council's decision was that the community would not have a PCYC to support is young people, then this was a sad day for Port Macquarie.
Mrs Williams will comment further once she analyses the council's decision.
Lyne MP Dr David Gillespie said: "It's obviously a big call for the local council to reject $2.5 million in funding from the state government.
"Nevertheless, I was recently assured by council's general manager that should council pursue this path they would be able to divert money away from existing projects and services in order to meet its obligations in delivering the project as promised."
Cr Adam Roberts was the only dissenting voice in the council nine-point decision.
The council agreed to provide support for PCYC to source an alternate location for a stand-alone facility.