PCYC upgrade 'as quick as we can'

There is no official date for the start of urgent renovations to the Bunbury PCYC building in Withers.

But PCYC chief financial officer Jesper Senton said the organisation wanted to start the renovations as soon as possible.

The Bunbury building, along with a number across the State, will be among the first stage of upgrades funded by $10 million from the State Government.

But the work cannot begin until the PCYC appoints a project manager, which is set to be finalised by the end of this month, and submits a plan detailing the upgrade work with the Government.

"I can't give you a date but it will happen as quickly as we can," Mr Senton said.

The PCYC, which is an independent organisation supported by WA Police, runs a number of diversionary programs for at-risk children across the State.

But concerns about the standard of the building in Bunbury were raised during a community meeting with Police Minister Liza Harvey and Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan last Wednesday night.

Ms Harvey said at the meeting that she was waiting for a report from the PCYC before the State Government agreed to release the $10 million funding.

The money was promised in the lead-up to the last State Election and came as a result of a 2012 review by Education Department director general Peter Browne.

Former Bunbury PCYC youth worker Gary Odine said he was disappointed upgrades to building had not been completed earlier.

He previously ran the Hyperspace program that attracted about 100 children to the PCYC building once a week.

Mr Odine believes the centre has potential to be a "prime" base for youth programs.

He said it could be a hub for low-socio economic youth.

The building is owned by Bunbury City Council but the lease agreement states the PCYC is responsible for renovations.

"I'd certainly like to see the building brought up to a good standard and maintained and used again," Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan said.

"In the meantime, the South West Sports Centre is down the road.

"But I do acknowledge that not everybody can afford to spend money to send their kids to the programs the sports centre provides."