VanFest, held at the Forbes Showground hosts festival goers. Credit: Vanfestofficial instagram
Forbes Showground, alongside Manildra, Bedgerabong, and Peak Hill are four of 29 showgrounds to benefit from safety upgrades, thanks to a $9.2 million improvement program from the NSW Government.
NSW MP Sam Farraway said showgrounds are important for local communities and the economy and the NSW Government is committed to supporting a strong and vibrant showground sector.
“Showgrounds are the heart and soul of our regional communities, bringing people together and connecting residents in cities to those on the farms. They are important community hubs, particularly in regional towns. We want to ensure that they are kept safe and functional,” Sam said. Safety upgrades include tiered seating, toilets, stairs, fencing, animal sheds, structural repairs to grandstands, stables, roofing and more.
Forbes Showground is frequently used and hosts thousands of visitors to Forbes each year, from near and far. Large festivals like VanFest will be better able to accommodate festival attendees and the annual Forbes Show will also benefit from the funding tremendously.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey said upgrades will ensure our regional showgrounds in towns like Manildra, Bedgerabong, Forbes and Peak Hill are kept safe and functional for future generations.
“In addition to the $9.2 million in showground upgrades currently underway, the NSW Government recently announced a further $25 million for showground improvements in Sydney and regional NSW to help stimulate local economies and support jobs,” Melinda said.
“This extra $25 million investment will provide a much-needed boost for communities and their economies by supporting tradespeople with work and strengthening more showground infrastructure for the future. State Members of Parliament with showgrounds in their areas have been invited to work with showground managers to put forward shovel-ready projects for consideration. This is a fantastic opportunity for Forbes residents with many look- ing forward to seeing what upgrades are in store for Forbes’ historic showground.