A MULTIMILLION-dollar expansion of Wagga’s Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA) has been given the tick of approval, facilitating the development of a convention centre.
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The Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel (SJRPP) unanimously voted in favour of the project on Wednesday after eight years of idle musings.
It is projected the centre will accommodate 650 people for sit-down functions and 1000 people for conferences.
ACTA national executive officer Tony Turner described it as a milestone victory.
“We’re going to provide something that the Wagga community has never had before,” he said.
“It's extremely gratifying to finally get to this point, we're across the line and now the development can soon commence.
“We’ve been working on this since 2009, when our first submission went before the government.”
The upgrades must be completed in time for Wagga’s ACTA to host the International Clay Target Shooting Federation World Trap Championships in March next year.
“Our timeline is very tight and we hope to have this finished by the end of February,” Mr Turner said.
Of the $7 million price tag, the state government will chip in approximately $5.5 million, with ACTA providing the remaining $1.5 million.
Wagga MP Daryl Maguire said NSW government heavy hitters were impressed by the predicted benefit-cost ratio in the order of $2.80 return for every $1 invested.
ACTAs executives aim to appoint a construction firm as early as next week.
Councillor and SJRPP alternative Daniel Hayes believes the venue will serve a market that is potentially missing in Wagga.
“It will have a great capacity to bring new events and functions to the city,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot of venues to suit 250-300 people but nothing of this scale.
“It was a resounding success for all parties involved.”