Works on Maitland Showground’s 100-year-old grandstand have hit a snag, but on the bright side it is hopeful it will be partly reopened in time for the Inner City Pace harness racing meeting in January.
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Hunter River Agricultural and Horticultural Society president Trevor Hardes said the search for suitable lengths of replacement timber had been fruitless.
“I’ve been searching as far as the north coast to find the six metre lengths needed,” he said. “They’re very hard to get.”
Appropriate timber has to be cured for six months after milling, adding significantly to the cost – and rarity of the timber – while putting a strain on the timeline.
“We might have to use steel instead of timber in some places,” he said.
“We’ve been in discussions with a builder. We would like to get part of it finished by the end of the year.”
The grandstand and the grounds belong to the society, which faces increasing maintenance costs on its ageing assets.
In the past year the society’s power bill has climbed from $25,000 toward a projected $115,000 because of rising
energy costs and the terms of service.
“It’s tough when all the money the events bring in go straight back into the grounds,” Mr Hardes said.
“There are some generous people within the community that help with the showground and it’s a massive task.”
The society and its board of volunteers were criticised in January for not securing $400,000 funding to fix the grandstand.