CATERING COUP – Dundee Community Centre trustees John Chappell, left, Paul Tudor, and Craig Klingner, right, with Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, third from left, out front of the new catering building with the canteen area behind them.
Tuesday, 8 November 2016
NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall says a $40,000 grant is the icing on the cake for new improved and upgraded catering facilities for the Dundee Community Centre.
The funding means the trustees can add another layer of culinary kudos to their canteen complex at the Dundee Sportsground and make it more attractive for other user groups.
Mr Marshall announced the $40,000 grant for the construction of a new canteen building on a recent visit to the sportsground and said the new structure would replace the old and antiquated canteen area which no longer complies with workplace health and safety or safe food handling practices.
The Dundee Community Centre trustees showed off the head start they’ve made on the new canteen project to Mr Marshall this month.
“We’re thrilled with the grant; it’s marvellous and excellent for us and we can do more catering and have larger events here because of it,” Trust secretary John Chappell said.
“As soon as Adam told us we were successful with the grant, we pulled the old canteen down and work on the new canteen is underway.”
The old kitchen/kiosk area had been part of what was a second-hand shelter shed moved to the sportsground from a local school back about 60 years ago, Mr Chappell said.
The canteen forms part of the corrugated iron structure that includes a large covered eating area and with a new slab and coolroom as well as some basic utilities upgrading such as plumbing will provide the group with an updated catering facility that complies with modern standards.
Mr Marshall said there had been a lot of community input and voluntary help to upgrade the facilities at the Dundee grounds, about 25 kilometres north of Glen Innes.
“The sportsground is host to a number of different events and the new canteen will provide the opportunity for the trust to attract even more activities there because they can provide a higher standard of catering,” Mr Marshall said.
Mr Chappell said that while the immediate community at Dundee only numbered about 50 residents, it played host to bigger audiences and sports.
“It really is the centre of our community,” Mr Chappell said.
The grounds are used for dog trials in November and the annual bushman’s campdraft carnival in December and the nearby Emmaville Pony Club has just joined them and relocated their events there.
“The camp draft arena is in good condition so this canteen will be another major improvement that will make life a whole lot easier for the user clubs to manage their catering,” Mr Marshall said.
“I’ve been impressed by the Trust members and their commitment to making improvements at the grounds.
“It’s great to see an active community looking after their assets, making them a desirable destination for visitors and locals who enjoy their horse and animal sports and the club members who for many years have put up with substandard canteen facilities.”
Mr Marshall said the funding had been provided under the State Government’s Public Reserves Management Fund (PRMF) which provides financial support for the development, maintenance and improvement of public reserves.
The Trust said they were getting on with the job of finishing off the upgrades and hopefully with some more financial input would continue to improve amenities at the sportsground. Included in those plans are such things as a water tank and troughs, and portable seating.
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