The half-century-old rodeo yards at the Tenterfield Showground will be razed and rebuilt over coming months thanks to a $14,852 federal Stronger Communities Programme grant.
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Showground Trust chair Bruce Petrie said the existing structure is riddled with rot and white ants and can’t be salvaged. The new steel yards will include design features like walkways for support staff and exclusion zones to prevent members of the public getting in the way of those preparing for their rides.
“It will be a more user-friendly design,” Mr Petrie said.
“It will have stronger yards, and a gate that won’t swing back and hit you in the forehead.”
BSJ Rural Contractors have the job of demolishing the old yards and constructing the new ones, hopefully over the Easter period. It certainly won’t happen for the rodeo at this year’s Tenterfield Show, but will be ready for use at the 2019 show.
The yards are used primarily for the two days of rodeoing at the annual show, and for other one-off events such as when Tenterfield hosted a round of the National Rodeo Association finals.
The grant doesn’t fully cover the cost of the $23,000 project, but Mr Petrie said the Trust, Tenterfield Pony Club and the Tenterfield Show Society will help make up the shortfall, in cash or kind.
As well as the Tenterfield grant, Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England Barnaby Joyce also announced Stronger Communities Programme grants for Tamworth Gymnastics Club ($16,000 for new toilet amenities), Upper Horton Sports Ground Trust ($20,000 to refurbish the kitchen and eating area), Nowendoc Bushman’s Carnival Association ($20,000 to upgrade the arena, cattle rails and stockyards) and Armidale Amateur Athletics Club ($2500 to replace high jump mats).
Mr Joyce congratulated all five organisations on their funding and gave thanks for the role they continue to play in local communities around the New England.
“Organisations like these have helped maintain links within our communities for generations,” he said.
“They offer rural and regional people, some who live far from their nearest neighbour, an opportunity to connect on a social level.
“So it’s vital we continue to invest in these grassroots clubs and groups, now and in the future.”