THE Mount Isa Campdraft Association has received a $100,000 state government grant to install lighting on the grounds.
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The funding was announced by State Treasurer Curtis Pitt as part of $800,000 for sporting upgrades in western Queensland which was allocated from the Get Playing Places and Spaces program.
The campdraft’s vice-president Jim Hagan, the station manager of Headingly Station, said the four lights should be installed in time for the third annual campdraft next July.
“It’s more for the safety of animals and the people,” he said.
“Some of the events run a bit late so we can continue into the night a bit if it’s a bit warm.
“It saves us hiring lights and saves costs of hiring them.”
It’s just the setting up that it takes, when people voluntarily have to give up some of their work and take on annual leave."
- Jim Hagan
It took time to install and pack up the hired lighting which was inconvenient for an association that relied on volunteers, he said.
“There’s nothing worse than packing up at the end of it all and get those lights and towing them away.
“It’s just the setting up that it takes, when people voluntarily have to give up some of their work and take on annual leave.
“Some fellas are up a week before setting up and getting ready. It sort of does take up a lot of your time.”
Mr Hagan said the campdraft association needed to get the quote from suppliers, building permissions from the council.
“There’s a lot to it,” he said. “We’ve got to have a meeting with the Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing in January and show them, and go through that with our plans.
“We get half and start the process, and once it’s through we get the other half.”
Mr Pitt said the funding aimed to encourage greater participation and was an investment in local communities and the state’s sporting future.
“Every station, national or international sports star began their rise to the top at the grassroots level,” he said.
“Through this great program, hundreds of clubs across the state have received funding to train volunteers, purchase equipment and run activities which will increase participation opportunities.”