MEMBER for Bathurst Paul Toole has kicked off 2019 with a string of funding announcements for the electorate.
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On Tuesday, he travelled around Bathurst to hand out just short of $75,000 to be spent on five projects.
Local cyclists were the biggest beneficiaries, with three projects securing money.
Bathurst Regional Council received $20,000 to assist in marketing the Bathurst Cycling Classic in March, while the Bathurst Cycling Club and Bathurst BMX Club secured $20,000 and $6000 respectively under the Local Sport Grants Program.
The $20,000 grant will provide a new public address system at the velodrome, while the BMX club will use its grant for a permanent cover over the starting gate on its track’s five-metre hill.
Bathurst BMX Club president Michael Breen said it was a requirement to have a cover to keep riders out of the elements while waiting.
Having a permanent cover would not only meet that requirement, but save the club money in the long run.
“We generally hire marquee tents when we have big events, so I’m trying to get all the infrastruture permanently in place so it will just be a one-off cost,” Mr Breen said.
The cover will also make the BMX facility better overall, bringing it closer to the standard of infrastructure seen at tracks that have been established longer.
Mr Breen said that the BMX facility was only getting better in the lead up to the 2020 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup, which it will host, and was just another example of great sporting infrastructure in Bathurst.
“I think the sporting facilities we have in this area are better than any other area in NSW,” he said.
“Look at the hockey fields, the soccer field, Carrington Park, Bathurst Bulldogs, St Pat’s and now the velodrome and the bike park out here, there are no other councils in the area that have anything like this.”
In addition to these projects, the Bathurst Bushrangers received an $8850 Community Building Partnership grant for additional awnings at its clubhouse.
Meanwhile the Cathedral of St Michael and St John got a $20,000 Heritage Near Me Green Energy grant to upgrade existing lighting to more efficient LED lighting.
Mr Toole said that he was pleased to be delivering more funds to important community projects, carrying on from last year.
“In 2018 we had quite a number of funding announcements made throughout the year. We had large funds mixed in with smaller grants that are supporting community organisations,” he said.
“Today is no different; we are going to kick off exactly where we left 2018. We are going to begin 2019 with funding announcements that are going to be small, funding announcements that are going be large, but more importantly funding announcements that cut right across the community.”
There is an election coming up in a few months, but Mr Toole said his commitment to the electorate won’t be any different just because he is running for re-election.
“We’ve been delivering funding across the electorate over the past four years. We’re not going to change, we’re going to keep it positive and we’re going to continue to deliver for this area,” he said.
“As a long term resident of the Bathurst community, I hear what the community needs but I also know the difference it is going to make on the ground.”