Tuncurry Forster Jockey Club Receives Federal Government Grant | Defender of the Great Lakes

The works – patching and widening of Chapmans Road – will improve safety and accessibility to the racecourse for emergency vehicles, local businesses, jockey and sports club users, racing fans and the general public.

An internal dirt road will also be sealed.

Tuncurry-Forster Jockey Club chairman Garry McQuillan said many local community groups, as well as racing fans, would benefit from the improvements.

“We have a number of other sports clubs here – the golf course, the croquet club, the bowling greens – and our dam provided water to many of these places when the fires were alight,” Mr. McQuillan said.

“Getting trucks in and out quickly is a priority.”

MP for Lyne David Gillespie said sealing the roads was essential to ensure fire engines had better access to the large dam at the center of the racecourse, which is a natural aquifer and the biggest source of fresh water from the Tuncurry Forster region.

We have a number of other sports clubs here – the golf course, the croquet club, the bowling greens – and our dam provided water to many of these places when the fires were ignited.

Garry McQuillan, President of the Tuncurry-Forster Jockey Club

“The sealed roads will allow faster access for RFS to fill their trucks at Tuncurry Racecourse in the event of an emergency,” said Dr Gillespie.

“The Rural Fire Service also uses this important water supply for training purposes, so the road improvements will benefit the public in more ways than one,” he said.

“This funding program supports local organizations and businesses recovering from the 2019-20 bushfires.

“In some cases, the funding provides improvements to local evacuation centers, fire equipment and training programs, or it invests in infrastructure that supports community resilience and connection and better preparedness. and fire response.”

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