A promise from the government to help fix Maitland Showground’s broken grandstand is worth more than the $250,000 it will cost the Coalition if re-elected.
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It means the showground could become a hub for community life once again.
The grant, to be announced today, will trigger the donation of $200,000 that an anonymous benefactor promised the Hunter River Agricultural and Horticultural Association last year.
The benefactor’s condition was that the association needed to come up with the remaining $250,000 to complete the work, so the community wasn’t left with a half-finished job.
Today’s promise from the government would allow work to begin.
The association and Maitland Business Chamber have tried to raise money for the work for almost a year through a program where people could sponsor a plank or another piece of the rejuvenated grandstand, but there have been few takers.
The association privately owns and operates the showground and does not profit enough from events there to pay to restore the grandstand itself.
If money does not come from the government, and the community can’t raise the funds, it’s hard to see how the restoration will ever happen.
So today’s announcement that the grandstand could be grand again soon is a major boost for the community.
Historically, showgrounds have been the heart of regional towns like Maitland.
They have been places for the community to gather, where farmers show off their best produce, competitors battle for glory in the centre ring and entertainers put on a show.
A refurbished grandstand would mean the showground could become a major destination for more community events, such as the annual New Year’s Eve fireworks, and reclaim its place at the heart of the city.
