LISMORE Showground is managing to keep its head above water in terms of infrastructure upgrades, thanks to innovative arrangements with employment training organisations, a helping hand from the State Government and plenty of good old volunteer elbow grease.
Critical electrical repairs including pole and board replacements and lights tower upgrades are almost complete, courtesy of an emergency grant of $47,850 from the Public Reserves Management Fund Program.
While a full electrical audit on the facility is currently underway and much more work is expected, the immediate improvements will allow for the large number of community events hosted by the showground to continue.
The facility’s managers, the Lismore Showground Trust, were advised by its energy supplier that power would be disconnected if the repairs weren’t carried out.
Trust president John Gibson said the showground hosted many events, from weekly farmers markets to the Speedway, horse competitions and a big four-wheel-drive and caravan show, not to mention the annual North Coast National, that pumped much-needed dollars into the local community.
It was good to see the State Government recognised that and stepped in to help out at a critical time, he said.
Like most of the State’s showgrounds, Lismore is suffocating under an upgrade and replacement backlog, with aging infrastructure and limited avenues for fund raising.
However, Mr Gibson said significant improvements were planned for the next six to 12 months, including stormwater drainage works and amenities and building upgrades.
“These will go ahead thanks to State grants, deals struck with training organisations providing labour and plenty of volunteer and community help to make the dollars go as far as possible,” he said.
Member for Lismore Thomas George said more than $16 million this year had been allocated through the PRMFP for upgrades to showgrounds, caravan parks and local parks and reserves.
