$8.2 MILLION IN FUNDING TO HELP TAREE AND THE MANNING VALLEY ON PATH TO BUSHFIRE RECOVERY
Taree and the Manning Valley will soon be home to one of the North Coast’s largest regional indoor sporting and entertainment facilities.
The current Saxbys Stadium will be expanded and transformed into the “Iron Arena” as part of a major upgrade thanks to more than $8.2-million from the the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund – a joint initiative of the Australian and New South Wales Governments.
Federal Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie and State Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead said the Federal and State Nationals in Government had secured hundreds of millions of dollars towards a range of programs designed to assist bushfire-affected communities get back on their feet.
The Local Federal and State MPs today announced $8,251,100 in funding to deliver one of the most signficant community infrastructure projects the Manning Valley has seen in decades.
Dr Gillespie said that when complete, the Iron Arena would provide a transformative change for the local economy attracting a range of high profile events at the local, regional, state and national level.
“Iron Arena will cater for a range of activities including increased participation in sport, by meeting latent demand, especially in Basketball and Futsal and a range of new sports such as volleyball and indoor hockey, as well as hosting trade shows and concerts.
Mr Bromhead said the project consists of an expanding and redeveloping the facility to include five indoor courts and the installation of retractable seats to create a ‘show court’ for larger scale sporting and entertainment events seating 1,300 patrons.
“This funding will transform Saxby Stadium into a regional complex fit to host major sporting and entertainment events, support the health and wellbeing of locals and the careers of rising sports stars,” Mr Bromhead said.
“Sport is such an integral part of our community, and while the current stadium has served the community well for 40 years, the added floorspace will accommodate more hours of competitions, social matches and training sessions.”
Dr Gillespie said the investment in Iron Arena will provide benefits for the community beyond sporting groups by driving a sustained boost to the local economy.
“This project is shovel-ready and will immediately deliver much needed stimulation to our region’s economy which has been ravaged as a result of drought, bushfires and Covid-19,” Dr Gillespie said.
Once complete, Iron Arena will be a premier sport and events facility, driving events-based tourism around high profile competitions which can be hosted locally.
“These events and sporting competitions bring in talent, coaches, organisers, families and friends who will spend with local accommodation providers, eateries and retailers.”
Chair of the Iron Arena Development Committee and President of Taree Basketball, Steve Atkins said the facility has long been dreamed of by local sporting groups.
“Taree has outgrown the current facility. This expansion of Iron Arena will fill a void in the sporting community allowing us to cater for larger events, like state championships,” Mr Atkins said.
“A facility like this isn’t just beneficial to the sporting groups, it will also help Taree build a stronger economy through sports-led tourism and allow our region to cater for a broader range of entertainment and other events.”
“The Nationals in Government are backing projects that will put people back in work, retain existing jobs and stimulate our region’s economy with a focus on improving essential community infrastructure and industry development,” Mr Bromhead concluded.
FUNDING INFORMATION
Applications for a share of $250 million can be submitted in the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund open round, which opened on 27 October 2020.
Grants of between $200,000 and $20 million will be available to organisations through the open round, including councils, joint organisations, business chambers, charities, businesses and Local Aboriginal Land Councils to deliver successful projects.
For further information, including guidelines, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/blerfund.