The scout community in western NSW will have access to improved facilities, after the NSW Government provided more than $290,000 in funding to the 1st Dubbo Scouts as part of the Stronger Country Communities Fund program.
Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the organisation had been successful in securing a total of $291,954 which will be used to re-roof the existing three buildings, remove asbestos, gyprock and paint some internal walls, install new flooring, doors and windows and construct a deck between the buildings with accessible ramps to improve access for all users.
“This round of the Stronger Country Communities Fund has had a real emphasis placed on youth projects, and this is one that will be of great benefit to young people in our region,” Mr Saunders said.
“A lot of kids grow up as part of the scout movement and it is important they have safe and suitable buildings to meet in and be based out of.”
Cubs and Joeys group leader Vaughn Simmons said the funding was welcomed by the 1st Dubbo Scouts organisation.
“It’s wonderful to see we’re doing something with our youth. A lot of our youth actually encouraged us to put this forward and wanted us to do these buildings up for them,” he said. “A lot of our older scouts have been pushing for this for a long time. We’ve been doing a lot of work on the grounds out there and they’ve had a lot of input into that, so once this gets on board they are going to be over the moon.”