February 2, 2017
Work on the first stage of a Taabinga Rotary project to upgrade the walking track at Kingaroy Town Common is expected to get underway soon, thanks to a $100,000 State Government grant.
Stage 1 of the $135,750 project will include a 1.3km bitumen path as well as $36,000 worth of exercise stations, including parallel bars, a sit-up bench, step-ups, a multi-bench and much more.
Taabinga Rotary members Darrin Kefford and Greg Marr developed the idea for the project more than a year ago and the club then approached the South Burnett Regional Council for assistance.
“We were looking for a project that would mean something for the community,” club president Paul Laurentiussen said.
The club has tipped in $13,000 from its 2016 Bookarama fundraiser in Kingaroy to help the project come to fruition.
Council contributed $15,250 and former Council employee Sharyn Garrett helped with the all-important funding application to the State Government’s “Get Playing – Spaces And Places” funding round.
Darrin Kefford said letters of support came from every sporting club which uses the Town Common area, as well as the Kingaroy Bowls Club which is on the other side of town!
There was also more cash support: $5000 each from Kingaroy Rotary, Kingaroy RSL and Kingaroy Junior Soccer Club, as well as smaller amounts from TAFE Queensland South West, Supa IGA Kingaroy and Boehringer Ingelheim.
Stage 2 of the project will include the installation of security lighting and wi fi stations.
Taabinga Rotary is looking at funding options for this work, and Cr Roz Frohloff and Cr Danita Potter have agreed to help.
Future stages could include disabled exercise stations, artwork and landscaping.
The plan to upgrade the Town Common was announced in February last year when Darrin was president of the Taabinga Rotary.
He said as well as tidying up and beautifying the Town Common, the new track and exercise equipment would give local sports clubs an extra place to train.
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Congratulations Taabinga Rotary for leading and persisting with this excellent project to bring it to fruition for the sporting clubs and the Kingaroy community.