Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall and Warialda Showground Trustees inspect the old ring fence at the Warialda Showgrounds. Pictured from left are Gwydir Shire Council Mayor John Coulton, Lex Roberts, Adam Marshall MP, David Moor (Chairman), Kerry McDonald and John McDonald.
AROUND two-thirds of the existing fifty-year-old ring fence at the Warialda Showground ring fence is soon to be replaced courtesy of $17,892 from the NSW Government’s Public Reserves Management Fund (PRMF), Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall announced today.
Mr Marshall met with Trust members recently to deliver the good news and discuss their plans to construct a new ring fence in time for this year’s Warialda Show.
“A total of $413,572 has been allocated to projects in the Northern Tablelands and I’m pleased to see the Warialda Showground will receive the funds to complete this necessary upgrade,” Mr Marshall said.
“I was happy to support the trust’s application – they are very hard working group and determined to continue improving the facilities at the showground.
“Replacement of the old ring fence has become a priority for the Trust as it’s no longer adequate and the safety of patrons has become an issue.
“I’m told it was probably built about 50 years ago and is starting to fall down in places so a new fence is well overdue.”
Mr Marshall said the fence would be replaced with steel posts, two inch pipe rails and steel cables running between the posts.
“The trustees and Warialda show committee members will start to pull the old fence down this weekend as they are keen to get the new fence up by show time in May,” he said.
“Warialda is a great little community and I’m pleased the NSW Government continues to support the maintenance of these important assets through this fund.”
Warialda Showground Trust Secretary John McDonald said it was very good news and the trustees were pleased they could now get on with the work.
“We certainly want this finished before the show,” Mr McDonald said. “The grant paid for all the materials and now it’s up to us to get the work done.
“We’ll be getting a lot of help from the show committee members and I know the pony club will help out. This upgrade is for the whole community, many local events are staged at the showgrounds so there a lot of community groups that will be happy to see the fence replaced.”