The Baird government will provide $250,000 to return the ailing Maitland Showground grandstand to its former glory if re-elected.
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Minister for the Hunter Gladys Berejiklian and Liberal candidate Steve Thomson will announce the election promise at Maitland Showground today.
Mr Thomson said he had been involved in fundraising efforts when he was the Maitland Business Chamber president.
He said the chamber came up with the idea for the Hunter River Agricultural and Horticultural Association’s sponsor a plank program, which was launched last year to raise money for grandstand repairs.
“This is just an integral piece of, not only Maitland’s history, but Maitland’s future,” Mr Thomson said. “It [funding] brings this building back to being the centrepiece of the showground and it will reclaim its place as a historical treasure.”
The government would not only provide funding to fix the grandstand, Mr Thomson said, but it would also help the association to organise and conduct the work.
An anonymous benefactor pledged $200,000 to the association last year for grandstand repairs, on the condition the association could raise the remaining money needed to complete the work.
The government funding would make up the remainder of the money needed and trigger the benefactor’s donation.
“This issue is very close to my heart and I couldn’t be prouder than to stand here today at the showground and pledge the crucial funds needed to restore our iconic grandstand,” Mr Thomson said.
“It has been a rollercoaster ride trying to save this important local asset, with an anonymous local committing $200,000 to the restoration but then being unable to round up the additional funds needed through grants and fundraising.”
Ms Berejiklian said Mr Thomson had been instrumental in securing government funds to restore the grandstand.
“With the majority of the grandstand now off-limits because it has worn away and been deemed unsafe, this contribution is a huge win for the Hunter River Agricultural and Horticultural Association,” she said.
Restoring the grandstand is expected to be expensive because it is a heritage-listed structure.
That means work needs to be completed in a certain way, using certain materials, to preserve the heritage value.
