Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall pictured at the Guyra Showground on this morning with Guyra Shire Councillor Dot Vickery, left, Showground Committee Chairman Cr Dean Heagney, Guyra Shire Mayor Hans Hietbrink and General Manager Peter Stewart.
PLANNING for a new amenities block at the Guyra Showground will soon get underway with the announcement of a $49,999 State Government grant for the project today by Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall.
Mr Marshall was in Guyra this morning and met with Mayor Hans Hietbrink, General Manager Peter Stewart and members of the showground committee to make the funding announcement and inspect the old and dilapidated facilities.
“The Showground Trust will now be able to construct a new amenities block which will service the neighbouring sports ground as well as well as the showground and is a very welcome improvement,” Mr Marshall said.
“The present facilities are very old and tired as they get a lot of use year round. The plan is the new amenities block will be centrally located so it can be used by visitors to the showgrounds as well as the neighbouring recreation reserve.
“The Guyra showgrounds and recreation reserve play host to a large number of events during the year so it’s great to see the trustees are continuing to make improvements to provide visitors with comfortable facilities.”
Mr Marshall said the grant was part of the more than $489,032 in funding Northern Tablelands had received under the latest round of the NSW Public Reserves Management Fund (PRMF).
“Showgrounds are wonderful assets that are highly valued by local communities and it is vital the State Government continues to financially support the management boards that are entrusted with their maintenance,” he said.
Mayor Hietbrink welcomed the injection of funds into the showground’s facilities.
“We’re very pleased to receive yet another grant to improve our busy and well-used showground,” Cr Hietbrink said.
“The present facilities have been in poor repair for a number of years so this is very welcome indeed.
“Each year at the showgrounds we have a rodeo, show, camp draft, an antique machinery show and a lot of visitors who set up stalls at the Potato and Lamb festival take advantage of the shower and toilet facilities there.
“At present a few of the showers don’t even work so we are absolutely delighted we can now get on with this, it’s well overdue.
“The recreation reserve is not only used for cricket and soccer but is constantly being used by various communities groups so we will be providing access to the new facilities from both grounds.
“We’re very appreciative of the support from the NSW Government and Adam Marshall to help with the cost of this project.”