Warialda Showground will have a brand new set of steel horse stables in the coming weeks, thanks to $226,489 in funding as part of the state government's COVID-19 Showground Stimulus package.
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Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall recently stopped by the showground to check on the progress of the stables.
"Already the stalls that are finished have greatly improved the look of Warialda Showground," he said.
"The demolition of the old ironbark stables only took a few days and showed just how small and unsafe the old structures were.
"Local builder Barry Jackson and his team have really hooked in on this project with around 75 of the nearly 100 individual 3m by 3m stalls now complete.
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"What's immediately noticeable is how much room each horse will have in the new building. Every stall has its own large gate and is protected with a corrugated iron roof.
"Work is ticking away on the six stallion's boxes, animal drug testing stall and much needed, additional storage space.
"The steel posts are now in for the final run of stables closest to the Gwydir Highway, with the roof and infill scheduled to be installed over the coming weeks."
Mr Marshall said some of the finished stables have already been put to use at a recent one-day campdraft event, where they scored highly for space, security and accessibility.
"While the old stables served the ground well over many years they were slowly falling apart and no longer safe for horses," he said.
"The showground stimulus program is doing a top job generating economic activity in a number of economies impacted by COVID-19 while supporting the long-term sustainability of showgrounds right across our region."
