Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, centre, Bingara Central School Principal Brooke Wall, left, and Gwydir Shire Council General Manager Max Eastcott inspect the current court facilities.
Monday, 9 April 2018
STUDENTS at Bingara Central School and members of the local community will soon be slam dunking in the shade, with a $113,734 NSW Government funding windfall to upgrade the basketball court, including an all-weather cover and lighting.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall visited the school last week to inspect the basketball court with Principal Brooke Wall. Mr Marshall said the funding would will see new line markings, lighting and a shade structure for the school’s multi-purpose courts.
“Bingara Central School’s courts are among the better facilities in the town, but some major works are needed to turn them into a high-grade space for the entire community,” Mr Marshall said.
“This $113,734 grant from the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund will erect a large steel shade structure, resurface and mark the court for a wider variety of sports, and add lighting for the first time.
“I’d like to commend Gwydir Shire Council for its $17,680 contribution and the school’s P&C for a very generous $6,000 to help this important project go ahead.
“When these upgrades are completed, students and the public will be able to play basketball, netball and volleyball rain and shine, day and night on a brand new court.
“This will help provide much more opportunities for young people across the Gwydir Shire to take up healthy pastimes, particularly for young women, who have traditionally faced limited sporting options.
“This will also help Bingara attract inter-school and regional sporting competitions, helping council attract and retain younger residents.”
The Stronger Country Communities funding comes from the NSW Government’s Regional Growth Fund, a $1.3 billion initiative to make regional areas more pleasant places to live, work and invest.
Mrs Wall said the NSW Government funded upgrades would be a great asset for the town.
“The collaboration between the Gwydir Shire, Bingara Central School and our P & C to upgrade our facilities for the benefit of the students will be felt for a long time,” Mrs Wall said.
“The upgrade will provide a space for our students and the community in all sorts of weather to participate in a wide variety of sports and hopefully enhance community sporting events within Bingara.
“This is a great step forward for the future of Bingara Central School.”
Works will be undertaken primarily during the Christmas break, with completion planned for the start of Term 1 in 2019.