The Border’s sporting community received a multi-million dollar boost on Wednesday through funding to improve Lavington Sportsground and secure a state level golf tournament.
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NSW Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres announced Albury would host the next two NSW Senior Open golf events and also committed $3.1 million to the Lavington facility.
“Albury is such an important part of the south of the state, it attracts a lot of events, it attracts a lot of school carnivals,” he said.
“It’s so important that we have good quality facilities that are accessible for people across a wide region.”
The sports ground money, stage three of the overall development, will improve grandstand seating, entry turnstiles, unisex change rooms, netball facilities and disabled access.
Member for Albury Greg Aplin said the project completed the spectator facilities “and relieves the council and ratepayers of the need to fund those particular upgrades”.
Albury mayor Kevin Mack said the council aimed to put tenders out in November, with work to start in February or March.
“When this is finished, this will be as it was in 1974 – state of the art, best regional facility in Australia,” he said.
“It’s getting too expensive for families and businesses to run events in capital cities, so they’ll come to regional cities for the better value and certainly the opportunity.”
The 54-hole NSW Senior Open, hosted by Thurgoona Country Club Resort last year, returns later this month and in 2019, offering a prize purse of $100,000.
Notable Australian golfers including Peter Senior, Ian Baker-Finch and Craig Parry took part in the 2017 tournament.
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