Narrabri Shire will receive a windfall of $529,000 in NSW Government grants with the money going to new programs and infrastructure for young people.

The funding will include Narrabri tennis court infrastructure upgrades, to receive a massive $310,852, Narrabri Youth Shack relocation $62,397, Youth art and culture banners $104,118, and $52,300 will go towards youth employment capacity building.

Narrabri Shire secured the grants from the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund which will see young residents across the area benefit from improved facilities and further engagement with local culture and employment pathways, Nationals NSW MLC Sam Farraway said.

Announcing the projects following a visit to Narrabri and Wee Waa last week, Mr Farraway said the funding ‘would provide positive outcomes for the Narrabri region’s youth as well as the broader community.’

A further $69,000 will be granted to the Maules Creek Campdraft Club, and $163,481 to the Showground.

More seating for Narrabri Showground

Spectators at Narrabri Showground arena events will soon have great views and be close to the action from the comfort of new ringside seats.

Funding of $163,481 for new, tiered portable seating was a surprise announcement for Narrabri Showground user representatives who last week met Nationals MLC Sam Farraway for a briefing on progress of their submission for a grant.

However, Mr Farraway, a veteran country show supporter and president for 10 years of the Royal Bathurst Show, pre-empted the briefing to announce on behalf of Deputy Premier John Barilaro that Narrabri’s bid for funding had been successful.

Chair of the Narrabri Showground Land Management Board Bill Wood said the board was delighted with the news.

“The new seating will be five tiers high built on a metre high pad, giving a clear view for audiences at all kinds of arena events” Mr Wood said.

“And the new aluminium seating will be transportable, able to be moved to venues around the shire, say Wee Waa Show or Boggabri Drovers’ Campfire, or in Narrabri for special events”, Mr Wood added.

The seating will be installed around the rodeo arena, a multi purpose facility which is used by the rodeo, the performance horse club, Pony Club, the Narrabri Show and the Riding for the Disabled among others.

Much planning had gone into identifying seating options and funding avenues said Mr Wood.

“The Showground is a community facility used by many organisations and many people during the year.”

The board had decided on six metre wide by five tiers high seating modules which will each seat 60 people.

The board proposes to install ultimately 10 of the seating units to seat 600 spectators.

“And eventually we plan to seat 2000 people” said Mr Wood.

“The board is looking at different configurations which may involve permanent, semi permanent and portable seating.

“A sub committee representing ground user groups has been working towards the seating for some time, looking at options and designs and we hope we have come up with the best solution.

“We were mindful of the fact that grandstands need to be flexible in their use and able to be transported for maximum usage for various uses around the town and other venues “ said Mr Wood.

The seating has forklift slippers built in for easy transport and each unit weighs less than 700kg.

The $163,000 grant won’t fully fund the project but will go a long way towards the total cost.

“We will start with the civil works, foundations and preparations and then add more seating modules as we go” said Mr Wood.

The seating will be built on about a metre of earthworks and served by a concrete path along the front.

“They will provide a fantastic viewing platform and allow spectators to easily see over the railings” said Mr Wood.

“It is pleasing to get some traction with developments at the Showground. I have been a member since 2014 and the grandstands has been a source of concern for years.

“This grant will go a long way to alleviating our seating issues.

“We will still need to source additional funding to complete the seating.

“But this grant has given us an enormous kick start and provided the foundation on which we can build.”

Mr Farraway said the funding would be beneficial to get the ball rolling on the committee’s grand plans for the showgrounds, the opportunity to look at hosting more events and expanding capacity of existing ones.