February 3, 2022
A long-term plan by the South Burnett Western Performance Club to upgrade its grounds in Nanango has been given the go-ahead by the South Burnett Regional Council.
At its recent General Meeting, Councillors unanimously approved the club’s plans to convert their open air arena in Racecourse Road into an undercover area.
The club also intends to install shaded, moveable grandstands capable of accommodating up to 200 spectators under the new awning, and upgrade the existing electrical supply to allow the installation of LED lighting for night events.
Other future improvements include upgrading the site’s fencing and yards, expanding existing overnight camping facilities at the grounds, and installing extra fencing to clearly define parking and pedestrian-only areas.
The Council’s assent for each project will be conditional on the club obtaining all necessary planning and building application approvals prior to the start of any works, and ensuring the works are carried out by suitably qualified contractors.
The club will also need to keep within the boundaries of its existing Racecourse Road site and limit overnight camping to participants and spectators at club events.
Club president Sarah Saxer told southburnett.com.au she was very pleased to receive Council support for the plans, which will be co-funded using the group’s own funds and grants.
The South Burnett Western Performance Club was established in the early 1990s, incorporated in 1994 and moved to the Racecourse Road grounds in 2008 after a former rodeo club that leased the land from Council ceased operations.
Club members have expanded the site’s facilities over the past 14 years to incorporate a large sand arena, 30 horse yards, spectator stands, a shaded canteen and an overnight camping area for the use of competitors taking part in two-day events.
The grounds are now also used by several other equestrian groups with interests ranging from barrel racing to endurance riding.
The club’s own events attract participants from as far afield as Roma, Boulia, Dalby, Gympie and Biloela.
Sarah said the first project the club plans to undertake will be to install the metal roof over the main arena.
This would allow competitions to be run in all weather conditions, and also provide much-needed shade for riders, competitors and spectators during summer.
Sarah said club members had inspected the Kilkivan Equestrian Centre, the Maryborough Equestrian Park and a number of other similar, well-established venues to put together their plans.
Once the roof is installed, the club plans to attach solar power panels and LED lighting systems which will allow the venue to operate after dark if required.
Other planned upgrades will occur once this is done – a process likely to take several years.
[Photos: SBWPC, Melanie Doheny and SBRC]
Further upgrades to the canteen and the site’s electrical systems are also planned to cater for the increasingly large crowds attending events at the grounds
