Volunteers and competitors will be the big beneficiaries from plans to upgrade infrastructure at the home base of Dubbo Eventing and Showjumping Association (DESA) at Brocklehurst.
Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders announced today that the organisation had successfully applied for $35,816 in funding through the Community Building Partnerships program, which will be used to purchase and install a fitted-out shipping container which will double as a canteen and office space.
“There is a small but very committed eventing and showjumping community in our region, and by ensuring the facility has adequate infrastructure it will allow it to grow,” Mr Saunders said.
“Dubbo is geographically located to host some pretty big events but the organisation needs the right facilities in order to attract them. Hopefully by providing funding for these kinds of projects we can help make that happen.”
DESA president Dale Frew said the funding will allow the organisation to have an appropriate area for food and beverage distribution, while doubling as a judge’s area.
“We’re very grateful for these grants because they go towards things we wouldn’t be able to get without them,” she said.
“We’ve been dealing with a canteen that was a barbecue and that’s it. We’re trying to run more open competitions to cater for people from out of the area but we need somewhere where we can serve people a good breakfast, lunch or even dinner if they are going to stay overnight.
“It’s becoming more attractive for us to run open competitions and once you do that you attract people to the community.”