BY JESSICA ROUSE
The Newcastle Regional Show has received a much needed funding boost from the NSW Government.
A one off $40, 000 grant was given to the Show Society yesterday, as a result of a plea made to the office of Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Catherine Cusak.
The government has vowed to undertake a review to help secure the future of the 115 year old event by investigating alternative revenue streams.
“We were contacted yesterday afternoon [Tuesday 28th February] to indicate that they had a cash flow crisis and this $40, 000 announcement is the Premier basically stepping in to make sure that the Newcastle Show goes ahead in 2017 and we want to also secondly make sure the show can be more secure and viable well into the future,” said Catherine Cusak.
Meanwhile, State Member for Newcastle Tim Crackanthorp says Labor are pleased with the news, but a one off payment this year, won’t be helpful for next year.
“We’ve been lobbying the government for the last month and while it is a good one off payment of $40, 000, we really need to see the arrangements change in terms of the rent and car parking payments for the future so the show can keep going.”