THE success of a partnership between Orange City Council and the PCYC at Anzac Park is underlined by talk of extending the stadium to meet a growing demand.
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When the Sir Neville Howse Stadium was built using the existing basketball stadium as a foundation, the joint venture between the council and one of the biggest youth organisations in the state was a new direction for Orange.
The PCYC moved out of its headquarters in Byng Street and injected substantial capital into the new indoor stadium at Anzac Park.
Together with council and federal government funding, the PCYC contribution gave the project the money and the critical mass of youth activities to create a successful sporting complex in 2009.
Just how successful has become apparent as netball and other activities have grown to such an extent that a second car park had to be built.
On Saturdays in the winter the outdoor courts are full and the indoor courts are booked solid. On weeknights basketball runs late into the evening, such is the demand.
The standard and number of indoor courts has meant that Orange can now host representative games to a state level, instead of our teams always having to travel. In addition there are gymnastics, boxing and activities for young children.
While Orange City Council retains ownership of the complex the PCYC runs it, and runs it very successfully.
The next chapter in the success story of Anzac Park could be contained in a 10-year masterplan for the precinct. Another indoor court, more spectator seating as well as improved facilities outdoors would take Anzac Park to the next level.
Exactly what improvements are undertaken and how they are funded are issues that should be thrown open to community discussion, but the one thing that seems certain is the management model the council adopted has already delivered vastly improved sporting facilities for Orange.
