On a road to bigger things at Moree Showground, contractors from Plan A Electrical Daniel Heffernan, left, and Sam Topscott, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, NSW Crown Lands’ Michelle Chittenden, Moree Showground Manager Anne Girling and road contractor Croydon Thorburn inspect the new internal bitumen roads.
Monday, 28 September 2020
STURDY, safe and sustainable are the words now being used to describe the Moree Showground, following the completion of a new industrial kitchen, roof-top solar system and internal bitumen road sealing, all funded by a $316,903 State Government grant.
Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall recently inspected the completed works and said in the space of three months the Showground Stimulus Program had cleared a backlog of projects which would have ordinarily taken Moree Showground Trust years to complete.
“The Moree Showground has never looked better, nor had better quality facilities,” Mr Marshall said.
“This funding has achieved exactly what it was intended, it’s boosted the showground’s functionality and provided work for around a dozen different local tradies during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Immediately noticeable as you drive through the front gate is the extensive, internal bitumen road works which have taken place, suppressing the amount of dust raised by vehicles, in particular around the campsites.
“Those campers choosing to stay overnight at the grounds will also benefit from the reconfigured showers, which are now safer with better drainage and extended Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system, which will keep an eye on would-be-thieves and vandals.
“The grandstand hall’s new industrial kitchen with stainless steel bench tops and cupboards, dishwasher, cooktops and exhaust fan has brought the Showground’s food preparation area up to health standards and made it the perfect space to host community events.
“Finally, a new solar system installed across the Moree Boxing Academy shed and main amenities block is generating electricity for buildings across the facility.
“This addition will save the Trust $24,000 each year and will offset the cost of running the additional CCTV cameras.”
Mr Marshall said the range of works would increase the venue’s ability to stand on its own two feet.
“Alongside the construction the new perimeter fence not only is the Moree Showground now more secure for visitors and organisers of equine and sport events, but it looks great as well,” Mr Marshall said.
“By using the solar to slash its annual power bill and having amenities which are more likely to entice grey nomads to stay, I have no doubt the Trust will start to see its bank account begin to rise, placing it in a better financial position to tackle maintenance and start planning future additions.”