Funding from the NSW Government’s $170 million Drought Stimulus Package will be added to $600,000 already received from its Stronger Communities fund.
This will allow stages one and two of the administration and museum project to proceed.
Stage one will include a new Ute Muster office, allowing staff to relocate to the Muster site, from its premises at the corner of Poictiers and Hardinge Sts.
Stage two will include a museum, commercial kitchen, meeting/function space, landscaping, car parking and solar power.
Also to be included will be a fully operational 30ft Comet windmill which will not only be part of the new tourist attraction but will also be educational with information on the history of the Comet and other windmills in the region displayed in the museum.
Ute Muster general manager Vicky Lowry said the funds received will boost the local economy by engaging local contractors for the build and increased employment opportunities once the museum is fully operational as a new tourist attraction for Deniliquin.
‘‘The new building can also be utilised by the community as a meeting space and will make the Deni Ute Muster site an emergency evacuation site.’’
The Deni Ute Muster was created in 1999 when Deniliquin was struggling from a crippling drought. The two day event has done all and more of what would have been hoped for back in its creation, providing economic stimulus, employment and creating visitation.
‘‘Twenty years on, Deniliquin once again is feeling the effect of drought but we still have the Deni Ute Muster, stronger than ever,’’ Mrs Lowry said.
‘‘It is exciting to be part of this amazing opportunity to create a new attraction for Deniliquin, leveraging off our two day event and creating a new tourist precinct available 365 days providing, as the Muster does, economic stimulus, employment and visitation.”
Chairman Russell Tait said it had been the organisation’s long term plan to move the operations out onto site.
‘‘In the last three years, lots of work has been done with plans and applications to include a museum; we believe this is the next step in creating new opportunities for Deniliquin from the success of the Deni Ute Muster,’’ he said.
‘‘Along with the board and the staff we are very excited that this project will finally come to fruition.
‘‘I would like to personally thank Nationals Leader and Deputy Premier of NSW John Barilaro and the NSW Government for their assistance and recognising the importance of this project in our region.’’
The 21st anniversary 2019 Deni Ute Muster will be held on October and 4 and 5.
This year’s headline act is international superstar Tim McGraw, who will share the main stage with some of Australia’s leading country peformers including Lee Kernaghan, John Williamson and Beccy Cole.
As usual, there will be a host of around the grounds entertainment.
The announcement of funding for its administration centre and museum continues a huge year for the Ute Muster, which has recovered over the past three years after a period in which it faced financial struggles.
In May, Deni Play on the Plains Festival Ltd, which runs the Ute Muster, announced a profit of more than $650,000 for the 12 months to the end of 2018.
This was the third successive year of profit and has helped the organisation lay foundations for a strong future.
The local support for the event has been identified as a major contributing factor to its success.
Tickets for this year’s Ute Muster are available from www.deniutemuster.com.au.