State Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay has announced a total of $78,000 in state grants and loans for the Tenterfield and Glen Innes showgrounds.
Tenterfield will receive a grant of $34,000 and a matching amount in a loan to purchase and install a demountable home to replace the existing caretaker’s cottage.
The Glen Innes Showground Trust funding of $10,000 is for a new mower to be used to maintain the grounds.
Mr Torbay acknowledged the support of Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner who approved the funding recently.
“It’s good to see this state funding to assist the hard working volunteers who run the annual shows each year,” he said.
“Showgrounds are in constant use and are a wonderful resource for local communities who keep them maintained and upgraded.”
Mr Torbay said Tenterfield Showgrounds, which had suffered extensive damage in the January floods last year, had received a state grant of $100,000 for emergency repairs.
More recently, $28,786 in natural disaster relief funding had been allocated to repair damage and replace equipment at the town’s popular Shirley Park, which had also been hit by the flooding.
An upgrade of the Glen Innes Showground tea rooms is underway through a $22,500 grant from the Community Building Partnership Scheme.
“Maintaining and upgrading infrastructure is so important for regional communities and these funding boosts from the government make all the difference,” Mr Torbay said.
“I attend the Shows in Tenterfield and Glen Innes each year and look forward to seeing these projects completed.
“There is usually a strong component of volunteer labour, which extends the government funding many times over.”