COMMUNITY facilities in Nyngan have been given a $2.8 million funding boost with NSW Minister Sam Farraway announcing a raft of successful grant projects during a whistle stop tour of western NSW in late January.

Mr Farraway was joined on a road trip by Nationals candidate for Barwon Annette Turner as he presented cheques for projects funded under the NSW Government Stronger Country Communities and Resources for Regions Funds.

They began their tour of Nyngan at 7.30am on Sunday morning, presenting the Museum Support Committee with $22,812 for air conditioning and better ventilation.

“This is my third visit to the Nyngan Museum to announce grant funding and each time I come through it gets better,” Mr Farraway said.

“It’s important for the Government to actually come and have a look at how these funds are being used and to thank the community groups who give up some much of their own time and effort to bring these projects to fruition.”

Next stop was the Old Nyngan Fire Station where one of local resident Keith’s White’s “Lifetime Ambitions” came closer to being realised when he was presented with a cheque for $156,029 for building renovations and the restoration of its prized exhibit – the 1924 Garford Fire Engine.

Mr White has been campaigning for the restoration of the historic fire engine since it was donated to the Nyngan community eight years ago by the Marr family of “Illabunda” who purchased it after it was decommissioned by the Nyngan Fire Brigade in 1963.

The next cheque to be presented was the biggest – being $1,237,639 for a raft of improvements to the "recreational precinct" in the heart of Nyngan.

These include upgrades to the tennis courts and clubhouse; a new amenities block with hot showers at the Nyngan War Memorial Pool; and additions to the newly built Bogan Shire Youth and Community Centre such as tiered seating, a portable stage, outdoor awning, sealed car parking and audio visual equipment.

Bogan Shire Mayor Glen Neill receives a cheque for improvements to Larkin Oval at Nyngan from NSw Minister Sam Farraway. Also pictured are councillor Graeme Jackson, Nationals candidate for Barwon, Annette Turner, Bogan Shire General Manager Derek Francis, and councillors Doug Menzies and Greg Deacon.

Another $224,227 will be spent on soft fall for outdoor play equipment at the BSYCC and neighbouring O'Reilly Park, and $334,979 on the continuation of BSYCC youth programs until 2026.

At Larkin Oval Bogan Shire Mayor and Nyngan Tigers Rugby League president, Glenn Neill, received a cheque for $208,575 for a four-cubicle unisex toilet block and some upgrades to the new canteen building.

Mr Neill said grant funding had made a vast difference to the liveability of the Bogan Shire over the past five years.

“Thank you to Governments for funding so many projects in our Shire. Certainly Nyngan has become a far more pleasant place to look at and live in over the past few years," he said.

The next cheque presentation was for $136,967 for a public art project aimed at brightening key infrastructure in Nyngan to foster community pride and to encourage tourism.

Bogan Shire general manager Derek Francis said it would be used to engage commercial artists to draft and implement mural designs onto existing community infrastructure such as the water tower and racecourse grandstand.

The touring party next visited the Nyngan Golf Course where $135,468 will be used to make improvements for pedestrians walking to the course along Tottenham road. These will include the installation of two footbridges over stormwater channels, solar lighting and 200 metres of new footpath.

Community associations were also invited to apply for grant funding in the most recent round of the Stronger Country Communities Fund. 

In Nyngan there were two successful projects – the renovation of the 3CN church hall to make it suitable for community events including the charitable distribution of food; and the installation of grandstands, electronic scoreboard and a BBQ shelter at the Nyngan Junior League oval.