Warialda Rail community members and a few of the local youngsters using the popular grounds celebrate a funding boost. Back row, left, Erin Hall, John Riley, Gwydir Shire Mayor John Coulton, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, Suzanne Webster, Jackie Smith, Emma Munn, Karen Rose and Justin Churchland.
Wednesday, 14 November 2018
THE village of Warialda Rail will soon get a huge power charge with a $50,000 NSW Government grant, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall announced today.
Mr Marshall said the financial help would help transformed an exposed over-sized carport structure that doubles as a clubhouse for the sportsground into a stand-alone and secure building.
Mr Marshall said Warialda Rail was a village in revival, a satellite suburb of Warialda that had become home to more families seeking out rural residential and bigger house blocks, many commuting to work in town or on district farms and feedlots.
“The latest statistics show us that there’s some 56 children aged from babies to 12-year-olds who live in the village and this funding will help upgrade the facilities at the sportsground that is a hub for family life and activities,” Mr Marshall said.
“It’s a lovely little community in a village that dates back more than 100 years when the recreation reserve was established there.
“The $50,000 grant will go towards renovating the clubhouse, enclosing what’s virtually a big carport, and refurbishing it internally so that it meets the growing needs of a growing community. It will make it more family-friendly.
“But the project will also focus on providing more compliant playground equipment and relocating that to a more suitable area and adding some extras to that as well as putting in a soft-fall surface for play and some shade shelter.
The Warialda Rail community last year asked Gwydir Shire Council to grant them Section 355 committee status, which under the Local Government Act provides for local people to act as an advisory group for the benefit and progress of different communities.
“The council agreed and the community requested an upgrade and refurbishment of the sportsground facilities, which includes an open field for cricket and a tennis court,” Mr Marshall said. “The residents there are keen to see some more improvements and the council and I have been listening and acting on those.”
Gwydir Shire Mayor John Coulton said a lot of families gathered together regularly at the clubhouse and updating facilities to provide a secure bar area and make more accommodating for social interaction was important.
A solar power system will be installed to reduce energy costs and Cr Coulton hopes that might extend to using it to pump water out onto the grounds as well to improve the outside recreational and sporting areas.