The Bellingen River Agriculture Society has scored two grants totalling $63,000, one federal and one state, to improve facilities at the showground.
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The Society will get Commonwealth help towards an upgrade of the main pavilion at the showgrounds and state funding to reroof and refurbish the dairy cattle pavilion.
On Tuesday, the Member for Cowper, Luke Hartsuyker, announced a Stronger Communities grant of $13,800 towards the $27,700 project cost to upgrade the main pavilion.
The upgrade will include the additions of air-conditioning and a dishwasher, both of which will make life more pleasant for the many groups in the community who use the pavilion for functions and fundraising events.
The pavilion hosts functions for up to 120 people, including birthday and wedding celebrations, and the showgrounds are regularly used by the growers markets and pony club.
“In many local communities right across the country showground facilities are an important community hub, and that’s certainly the case for Bellingen,” Mr Hartsuyker said.
“It’s great to be able to help make your facilities a more pleasant place for all those events, and I’m sure the many volunteers who make most functions possible will be grateful not to have to wash quite so many dishes, and do so in considerably more comfort as a result of air-conditioning.
“Previous works that enclosed the main area certainly made it useable 365 days a year, but have meant a hot environment in summer and a cold one in winter. The air-con will take care of that.
“I congratulate the Bellingen River Agriculture Society for their hard work, and wish them well with the project.”
The state grants announced yesterday by the Member for Oxley, Melinda Pavey MP, were from the 2018 Community Building Partnership program.
The dairy cattle pavilion project received $49,150. Other projects that were successful in their application for funding within Bellingen Shire included the Dorrigo Swim Club - club and community shed - $11,620; Bellingen Scout Hall - bathroom and roof repair - $12,000; Rotary Club of Dorrigo - Coronation Park playground - $25,000; and the Bellinger Community Communications Co-op - $12,226.
“I congratulate all those organisations that were successful in their application and look forward to seeing the projects take shape,” Mrs Pavey said.