WITH the Sunshine Coast Agricultural Show unable to proceed this year, the Show Society has shifted its focus to the future.

They are determined to make next year’s show bigger, better and more accessible, thanks to an Agricultural Show Development Grant.

Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien said the funding was timely given the effect of Coronavirus on this year’s event.

“The Show Society is to receive just over $100,000 in funding to allow it to install a passenger lift in the main pavilion,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Our annual show is always a big event, it brings together people from all walks of life and attracts upwards of 25,000 patrons every year. So to be able to increase access for people with mobility issues is a wonderful endeavour.

Sunshine Coast Show Society President Rowan O’Hara said the grant would tick a big item off their wish list.

“It’s something that we’ve had on our wish list for probably 10 years now and in that time we’ve had a lot of complaints about only having stairs, so we just couldn’t go on without the ability to allow the disabled and elderly people access to that part of the Show,” Mr O’Hara said.

“We could have applied for something different like new horse jumps, but this will help the rest of the community as well as us because people that couldn’t make it up the steps will now have the opportunity to visit the top level easily and to be able to see all those exhibits.

“It opens up that area for other community groups too.  It is actually the home of Nambour Darts, so they meet there on a weekly basis and they’ve had disabled people there and have had to carry them up the stairs.  So that group, and others, can expand with all ability access, so it will become a lot more usable space now.”

 The cost for the lift is $140,000.  The Sunshine Coast Agricultural Show Society is receiving $100,402 from the Federal Government with the remainder unanimously voted to be taken from the Showgrounds Levy Fund.