More than $1.4 million will be provided for stage one of the White Park Recreation and Equine Facility Development through the Hunter Infrastructure and investment Fund (HIIF).

Upper Hunter Dressage, Scone Pony Club and Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza representative Julee Gilmore welcomed the upgrade.

“I think it’ll attract a larger field of competitors from a broad range of equestrian sports,” she said.

“For the clubs I am involved in, an indoor arena will definitely attract high level dressage riders who look for good surface arenas to compete in. 

“It will also be a great asset to the Pony Club and UH Beef Bonanza, allowing us to run our events in a controlled environment and out of extreme weather elements.

“It is definitely a long time coming and very exciting.”

Scone Rodeo and Campdraft committee member Jade Smith added the announcement was a “massive positive”.

“Not only is it going to benefit user groups here, but also the equine and other events that come to town and want to use the facilities,” he said.

“I’ve always said that if the facilities were good at White Park then there could be so many events held here.

“Now that we’ve got the funding, we just need to make sure that we get the right facility to suit everyone in terms of seating and size.

“We don't need what Tamworth has, it just has to be right for Scone.

“That’s the key thing before it happens.”

Stage one of the development has an estimated total cost of $1.969 million, so the balance will be from council funds and user group contributions.

This stage of the project includes: new arena surface and drainage; 90m x 60m roof; mobile terraced seating; water tanks and landscape irrigation; and lighting under the roof.

Organisations that have flagged new events for White Park when the development is complete include: Professional Bull Riders Australia, National Cutting Horse Association and Hunter Valley Cutting Club, Upper Hunter Dressage Club, Show Jumping Association, Australian Stock Horse Society, Scone Hack Show, Working Stock Dog Futurity, and Scone Pony Club.

Construction is expected to start around February and be completed in August 2017.