WAGGA’S equine industry has joined forces with a city councillor and has declared “come hell or high water” there will be a complete upgrade of Equex.
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The bold statement has reignited long-standing tensions over the future of the site and is bound to put pressure on council as it confronts a growing backlog of competing infrastructure projects.
The land at Equex was donated to council two decades ago and since then there have been several upgrades to the rugby league and netball facilities.
But Councillor Garry Hiscock – a fierce ally of the city’s equine clubs – said subsequent upgrades to the equestrian centre had become unhinged and “completely” fell off the agenda.
Cr Hiscock said other regional cities such as Tamworth had surged ahead of Wagga while inaction flourished.
“There was a lot of enthusiasm between the equine clubs to get the ball rolling,” he said. “The community was behind it, but since then their strength has been eroded. Council has a lot to answer for here.”
Cr Hiscock wants stage one of the upgrade to begin. It would put a roof over the existing outdoor arena currently beholden to Mother Nature.
“We need to build this stadium,” Cr Hiscock said.
“I know money is always an issue, but we cannot procrastinate any longer. We have already fallen too far behind.
“We are the City of Good Sports … we have to exhibit our sporting prowess.”
A 2009 council audit of the site explored a range of options for an upgrade and also canvassed its future economic potential.
Wagga Rodeo and Team Yarders Association secretary Kelly Hall said the city was ideally placed to capture the travelling Sydney and Melbourne market.
“There has never been a halfway spot between shows,” she said.
“Up to 8000 spectators go to these events … campdrafting is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. You can just see what the potential could be.”
Ms Hall said the Charles Sturt University Equine Centre was ill-suited for the majority of horse sports because it cannot hold cattle. She also sees an upgraded Equex as being multi-purpose and able to host events such as music concerts.
“This is not just for the horse sports. This can truly be something that Wagga can be proud of,” she said.
