The old Lions Youth Camp has been revitalised with a new name and new owners.

Now known as Mount Isa Youth Camp, it is open again for business and will formally come under Mount Isa Council control next week.

The camp at Lake Moondarra closed in 2009 but is now getting a new lease of life after local groups worked on its restoration.

Cr McGrady said there wouldn’t be too many people who grew up in Mount Isa that didn’t have fond memories of the Camp.

“That’s why some of our committee members are helping out – The dream I have for this place is obviously for our kids, but also for kids from the coast who can come here and get a feeling for the bush which is something I think is really important.I also want to see companies coming down here for training sessions,” Cr McGrady said.

“You could be 500km from anywhere here and yet you are only 20 minutes from the city of Mount Isa.”

Cr McGrady said the Water Board leased the building and the surrounds to the council in 2014.

“We are in the process now at Wednesday’s council meeting of incorporating – for legal reasons – of incorporating this complex with the MIETV, a wholly owned council company which owns the Civic Centre, Buchanan Park, Outback at the Isa and this will be become part of that group,” he said.

“The committee that manages this place will still have an important role to play but this will address legal and financial liability.”

The mayor said Glencore had been generous, and the Irish Club and Zonta had donated money to buy plants.

“I want to see this place transformed,” he said.

“It’s all very well to have a committee of 12 but for this to take off we need this to be a community project.”

Individuals and businesses can “sponsor” a brick for a fee, and the brick will be used to build the front fence.

The bricks will bear a plaque with the sponsors name on them. All the funds raised from the bricks will go towards improving the camp.