There is a large chain-wire fence around a big shed in Mount Isa that hosts a bowling alley, small cafe and, until a few months ago, a giant empty space that was once a supermarket.

Key points: Police say the Youth Zone has benefits for children socially and behaviourally

Police say the Youth Zone has benefits for children socially and behaviourally Mount Isa's youth say they enjoy additional responsibility, fun with their friends and dancing at the centre

Mount Isa's youth say they enjoy additional responsibility, fun with their friends and dancing at the centre Police are working on a plan for how the centre will exist in 2020 after a rent-free period expires in January

But when the local PCYC made contact with the building owner, they were gifted the space — rent-free for six months — to set up a youth zone.

They turned what was otherwise wasted, empty space into a fun, bright hub for children to socialise, draw, run, dance and play soccer, music and handball.

It regularly attracts more than 50 kids each time the doors open but the six-month expiry date is drawing near and the PCYC's Sergeant Bernadette Strow must reassess its future.

Seven-year-old Ieasha says without the Youth Zone she would be "playing out" and not being with her friends. ( ABC North West Queensland: Kelly Butterworth )

Feels like 'heaven'

The children's enthusiasm for the space is palpable.

Earlier this year, a social media video of 11-year-old Anton dancing at the zone went viral with more than 120,000 views.

Anton said being at the zone felt like "heaven".

"Every time when I walk in here, it feels like I'm in a different world," he said.

"And then I close my eyes and open them and I just find myself in heaven."

Noeleisha, Blessing, Chris, Sally, Rodney and Zahiem (from L to R) are just some of the happy faces at the zone. ( ABC North West Queensland: Kelly Butterworth )

Police assess options for PCYC in 2020

Sergeant Strow said the six months of free rent would expire in January and her team was assessing options as to how it could exist in the future.

"We have the zone at the old Woolies building until the end of the school holidays," she said.

"We're not quite sure where or how it is going to look.

"I'm pretty confident that we will be, in some form, continuing with this youth zone concept."

PCYC Mount Isa's Constable Aimee Sewell and Sergeant Bernadette Strow. ( ABC North West Queensland: Kelly Butterworth )

In its current format, the youth zone is not easy to run.

It is open between 2:00pm and 7:00pm and it takes staff and volunteers to do the set up, run the program, and pack up.

For the paid staff, that time needs to be rostered and taken out of their usual PCYC tasks.

Lollie, 11, loves going to the zone because "you get food, and showed a lot of respect, teamwork, and leadership". ( ABC North West Queensland: Kelly Butterworth )

Constable Aimee Sewell, who is heavily involved with the town's young people, leads the staff and volunteers at the zone.

She raised more than $80,000 in a year-long fundraising campaign for the centre.

Nachaya, 11, loves playing handball at the centre and says she would be "bored" without it. ( ABC North West Queensland: Kelly Butterworth )

Behaviour benefits

Sergeant Strow said, aside from the social benefits for the children, it had a positive impact on behaviour too.

She said Tristin — a regular at the zone — had behaviour problems six months ago but was now embracing a leadership position and helping to mentor the younger children.

The 12-year-old is now part of a youth group Sergeant Strow set up where selected children wear shirts to highlight them to their peers as someone to trust and go to for advice.

"It's rewarding. Seeing kids like Tristin grow, it's just so great," Sergeant Strow said.