A long overdue complete upgrade of the rodeo arena at White Park Scone has started this week.
The Upper Hunter Shire Council has approved $196,000 in funding to fulfill the upgrades proposed by the Equine Working Infrastructure Party.
The rodeo arena upgrade was one of the top priorities in the total upgrade and re-development of the equine precinct which the party was established to bring to fruition.
In just eight months the committee, including councillors, council staff and members of the equine community have dedicated time and research to seeing this first stage started.
The upgrade will include new multi-purpose yards catering for 250 head of cattle, six new bucking chutes with platform, stairs and load up races; and loading facilities, as well as an upgrade to the existing surface of the rodeo arena.
With Scone Rodeo being one of the major rodeos in the state attracting more than $10,000 in gate entrants each year, the need for first class facilities has long been an issue for user groups.
An order has already been submitted and the project, funded by the council’s current reserves and previous asset sales, with the new facilities is to be completed for the Scone and Upper Hunter Horse Festival rodeo in May.
The upgrade will also see the council fit to request the Professional Bull Riders Association of Australia add Scone to their 2012 Touring Pro calendar with an event to be held here in October.
Once complete, the facility will have a user pay system established and the working party plans to establish a management strategy for White Park.
Upper Hunter Shire councillor and Equine Infrastructure Working Party chairman Michael Johnsen said he was pleased the council had agreed to put up the initial capital for the works.
Cr Johnsen said the rodeo arena was the first stage of the larger project scheme and the council had applied for $2.5 million under the Regional Development Australia Fund for stages two and three which include a covered arena, new Hill Street entrance and powered camp sites.
“It’s all about making the park workable now and into the future and meeting the expectations of being the Horse Capital of Australia.
“At the moment we are a long way behind that title and this upgrade is very long overdue,” Cr Johnsen said.
“This is the first stage of getting things done and I commend the working party as they have been very helpful in getting answers from the user groups with their welcomed healthy level of impatience.”
Upper Hunter Shire mayor Lee Watts said now the decision had been made, progression should be fairly quick.
“To have the new arena ready for horse week is an excellent opportunity for us and the community.
“This is what we are all about – the equine industry.”
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