In the heart of the Waterloo estate, as the temporary street lights flicker to life, the air fills with pulsating music and the rhythmic sound of heavy breathing and clanking equipment. This is not a professional training camp or a high-end gym; it is a youth-run bootcamp in Waterloo that has evolved from a desperate response to a community loss into a burgeoning social movement.
The initiative, known as 17x16cdp, began when a group of teenagers from the Redfern and Waterloo estates realized they had lost more than just a place to exercise. After the South Sydney Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) closed its doors, local youth found themselves without the routine and sense of purpose that the facility had provided for decades. Refusing to let the void lead to negative outcomes, David Castriani and his peers decided to build their own sanctuary on the pavement.
What started as a small gathering of friends has snowballed into a community powerhouse. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights, starting at 5:30 p.m., as many as 100 participants gather to train. The diversity of the crowd is a testament to the program’s reach, with attendees traveling from as far as Penrith to join the sessions. For the founders, the bootcamp is less about athletics and more about survival and identity in a challenging urban environment.
The Genesis of 17x16cdp
The name 17x16cdp is a deliberate map of the community’s identity. It combines the postcodes of Waterloo (2017) and Redfern (2016), while “cdp” stands for “chest, dip, and pull”—the foundational exercises that anchor every session. By weaving their geography into the brand, the founders have created a sense of ownership and pride among the participants.
The necessity for the club became acute following the closure of the South Sydney PCYC on December 31, 2024. For generations, the PCYC at 638 Elizabeth Street had served as a vital hub for boxing, Judo, basketball, and arts and crafts. When the facility shut down, the loss of structured activity left a gap that the youth of Waterloo and Redfern felt immediately. David Castriani noted that the goal was to ensure the younger generation did not turn into a statistic in the justice system.
The bootcamp operates on a philosophy of mutual support. In a neighborhood that the founders describe as poor compared to other parts of Sydney, 17x16cdp provides a low-barrier entry to health and mentorship. It is a space where making “smarter choices” is the primary objective, and physical fitness is the vehicle used to achieve that mental shift.
Drawing the Stars: From Local Streets to Professional Leagues
One of the most striking aspects of the Waterloo bootcamp is its ability to attract some of Australia’s most elite athletes. The raw energy and authentic community spirit of 17x16cdp have drawn National Rugby League (NRL) stars, including Josh Addo-Carr and Izack Tago, who have participated in the sessions.
The appeal extends beyond the NRL. Players from the NSW Waratahs Super Rugby side, including Clem Halaholo, Triston Reilly, and Siosifa Amone, have been spotted training alongside the local teenagers. These professionals often arrive after completing their own rigorous team training sessions, choosing to spend their remaining energy in the Waterloo estate.
The presence of these athletes provides an invaluable psychological boost to the local youth. Seeing professional sportsmen treat a street-side bootcamp with the same respect as a high-performance center validates the efforts of the teenagers and reinforces the idea that excellence can emerge from any environment. It transforms the training sessions from a simple workout into a high-profile exhibition of community resilience.
The Transition to Redfern Place
While 17x16cdp fills an immediate and critical need, the long-term vision for the area involves a return to structured, institutional support. The City of Sydney has been advocating for the redevelopment of the site at 600-660 Elizabeth Street to ensure that youth services are permanently restored to the community.
This redevelopment will culminate in the creation of “Redfern Place,” a new community facility designed to replace the original PCYC. According to official City of Sydney council decisions, the project involves a $38 million investment to build a 3,500-square-meter facility. The broader redevelopment of the site is expected to deliver approximately 350 new homes, including 109 social, 39 affordable, and 11 specialist disability support homes.
The new facility is being delivered through a partnership between Bridge Housing Limited and PCYC NSW Ltd. While the promise of a state-of-the-art hub is welcome, the current success of the youth-run bootcamp in Waterloo highlights the urgency of the situation. The teenagers of 17x16cdp did not wait for a $38 million grant to begin changing their lives; they used the resources they had—their own strength and a patch of pavement.
Community Impact and the Path Forward
The impact of 17x16cdp extends beyond the physical health of its members. By creating a structured environment where music, exercise, and mentorship intersect, the founders have established a grassroots social intervention program. The bootcamp serves as a shield against the pressures of crime and poverty, offering a tangible alternative to the streets.
For the participants, the value lies in the consistency. The 5:30 p.m. Start time creates a deadline in their day, a commitment to their peers, and a space where they are viewed as leaders rather than liabilities. This shift in perception is often the most critical component of youth development in marginalized urban areas.
As the community awaits the completion of Redfern Place, the 17x16cdp movement stands as a testament to the power of youth agency. It proves that when institutional support fails or is delayed, the community possesses the innate ability to organize and protect its own.
The next major milestone for the area will be the progression of the Redfern Place construction and the transition of PCYC services back into a permanent facility on Elizabeth Street. Until then, the music will continue to play in Waterloo, and the youth will continue to lead the way.
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