David Gillespie (Lyne, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Recovery from the bushfires that ravaged the Mid North Coast of New South Wales is gathering momentum. I was pleased to meet at Taree Saxby's basketball stadium, which was built in the early 1980s by volunteer labourers and a government-guaranteed loan, guaranteed by Mr Yarad of Yarad's Menswear. He turned up for the big announcement of a $8.2 million state and federal government grant out of the bushfire economic recovery plan funds.

Taree's Saxby's Stadium, which is very heavily used, has reached capacity, but it's being transformed, courtesy of this $8.2 million grant, into the Iron Arena. It will have another three courts, making it a five-court multisport, multi-event arena. Not only will basketball flourish there, but there will be futsal, netball, trade shows and entertainment events. It's got the capacity to hold 1,300 people. It will drive multiple event based tourism and multiple sport based tourism into our regional economy. Retail, food outlets and accommodation will all benefit. It's a great announcement. Congratulations, Steve Atkins, for the great work in making this happen.