Back on track: Funding for Shirley Park facilities has been announced.
SPORTING facilities in Tenterfield are set to improve dramatically after two local clubs were awarded nearly $30,000 in state government funding to rebuild facilities and upgrade equipment.
The Shirley Park Trust through the Tenterfield Shire Council has been successful in securing $28,786 natural disaster funding from the state government.
The money will be used to build a new storage shed and new nets at Shirley Park to be used by the cricket club and Tenterfield’s Junior Soccer Association.
“This is absolutely fantastic news,” Alan Donges, president of the Tenterfield Cricket Club, said. “I’m sure everybody will be very excited.”
Tenterfield’s Junior Soccer Association president Ron Bridge said the clubs made their application for the disaster relief funding after the January floods in 2011.
During the floods, the junior soccer club had their goal posts, training equipment and nets washed away down Tenterfield Creek.
“We were classified as a disaster area and it is good to see that the government has followed through with the funding they promised,” Mr Bridge said. “It will be really good for us to have a storage facility back, we will be able to store our goalposts in the off season.”
Over the past 12 months, the two clubs have been storing their equipment in the area behind the canteen.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Services Andrew Stoner announced the funding.
“I am pleased the NSW Government has been able to assist with paying for the repairs at this popular local reserve,” he said.
The news that Tenterfield secured the funding has also been welcomed Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay who said the money would help council cover the cost of repairs and benefit the community.
“The 2011 flood was the worst local people had experienced for more than 50 years and repairing the damage it caused is still proceeding,” Mr Torbay said.
Dave Stewart from Tenterfield Shire Council said the shed would be placed in the north-eastern corner of the park with work to start “as soon as practical”.
