Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, left, pictured with Ashford Showground Trustees Margaret Mell, Roxanne Geach, Gilbert Fitzhannan and David Thompson (Chairman) on the ageing cattle load ramp, which will be replaced as part of the upgrade works.
REBUILDING the ageing cattle yards and loading ramp at Ashford Showground has been a long-standing priority for the Reserve Trust members and now, thanks to a State Government grant of $12,000, the upgrade works can begin.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall visited the showground recently to catch up with the dedicated Trust members and give them the news about the funding from the NSW Public Reserves Management Fund (PRMF).
Mr Marshall said the Trust had received a PRMF grant last year to install shade sails and new water troughs in the cattle holding yards to reduce the heat stress to the livestock and volunteers.
“The trust brought to my attention earlier in the year that they would like to continue upgrading their cattle yards and once again I was more than happy to support their grant application,” he said.
“It’s always a pleasure to visit Ashford, the Trustees are so committed, enthusiastic and hard working. I’m delighted the government also saw the merit in supporting this next improvement project.”
Mr Marshall said the grant was part of more than $489,032 funding Northern Tablelands had received under the latest round of the 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.
Ashford Showground Trust Chairman David Thompson welcomed the funding support and said the old timber cattle yards and ramp needed to be replaced.
“We were delighted to have received this grant,” Mr Thompson said. “We received a grant last year to put shade sails over the holding yards and we were pretty keen to replace the old timber yards and ramp.
“They’d have to be over 50 years old so well overdue for replacement. We’d like to get them done before our annual show in February.”