Gunnedah Showground upgrades complete with 2021 Gunnedah Show to be best yet

Now, there's new rodeo and camp draft arenas, new grandstand seating, a new amenities and shower block, and existing amenities blocks have been refurbished.

Safety has also been enhanced, so there is better disability access to the gymnasium and the addition of five wheelchair-accessible picnic tables and shelters.

Show society president Rob Witts said the "big dogs" now want to take advantage of the new soft-fall arena, and as a result of this, there was set to be more rodeo days at the show this year.

"Before we were lucky to get two hours, now we've got Saturday afternoon and Sunday," Mr Witts said.

"I think all of this is COVID related, people are dying to get out and dying to do things. Lucky for Gunnedah and Gunnedah Show, we're open for business."

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He and the other society members are very excited by the new facilities.

"With the lighting, beforehand to run the show we used to have to hire lights, and now we've got lights you could have an AFL game under," he said.

"The Gunnedah Showground and show and people are very lucky. We can't wait to run this year's show in April."

Gunnedah mayor Jamie Chaffey said it was great there was such a "huge amount of work" done as "we start to recover from COVID-19".

"It'll encourage people to come and use and celebrate the infrastructure improvements to the showground," Cr Chaffey said.

"A lot of money, a lot of focus, but it's about council listening to our community and user groups and partnering with the state government."

The showground redevelopment received $1.79 million in funding through the NSW Public Reserve Management Fund and two rounds of the state governments Stronger Communities Fund, supported by Gunnedah Shire Council co-contributions of $442,775.

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson emphasised the benefits of the project to the Gunnedah community.

"Showgrounds are the heart of regional communities servicing multiple community groups throughout the year," Mr Anderson said.

"This funding will add to the cultural and economic vibrancy of Gunnedah in a number of ways."

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