Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall, left, pictured in the Den with Armidale Basketball Association President Richard Stayner and Armidale basketball stalwart Judy Monaghan.
SINCE its official opening in 2007, the New England Regional Indoor Sport Complex, better known as the Den, has not only been home to the Armidale basketball competition but has doubled as a gymnasium and sports centre for Armidale High School and been used as a venue for a multitude of community sporting events and functions.
However, the well-used venue has sprung some leaks and Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall today announced a $17,000 State Government Community Building Partnership grant to help the management committee repair and replace the leaking wall louvres.
“Unfortunately when the Den was built there were a few design errors and the large louvered windows situated above the doorways are now in a dilapidated state,” Mr Marshall said.
“They’re easily broken, many have simply fallen out and when it rains they leak badly. The committee also assures me that in winter, they’re not effective at keeping the cold winds out.
“So their request for a grant to help fix the problem fell on sympathetic ears, and I was more than happy to support their grant application.”
Mr Marshall said the Den was an important community facility and the community grants were intended to help management committees maintain and upgrade their infrastructure.
“The Den is a large centre and takes a lot of money to maintain so I’m more than pleased the government has stepped in to assist with the cost of replacing the louvres.”
Armidale Basketball President Richard Stayner said the grant was very welcome and the replacement of the louvres would make a wonderful difference to the comfort factor of the Den.
“Not only will replacing the louvres make the Den a more comfortable venue for everyone, it will also help prolong the life of the flooring, which soon won’t be exposed to any leaks when it rains,” Mr Stayner said.
“This sort of maintenance project is a little beyond our financial capacity so we are very grateful to Adam for this support and the funding.”