MANNING Cycle Club’s half century nomadic existence will come to an end when work is complete on the extensions to Manning Hockey Association’s clubhouse.
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Cycle president Michael Cross explained the club will use the bottom section of the clubhouse to establish a headquarters.
“The club’s been looking for a home for 50 years,’’ Mr Cross said.
“Now we’ll finally have one.’’
Mr Cross pointed to the club’s current ‘base’ – a storage shed that sits near Manning Hockey Association’s Allan Taylor Field.
“I think we got that when the Cundletown Pool closed,’’ he said.
“That’s been our clubhouse.’’
Mr Cross added the headquarters will enable the club to apply to host regional and possibly State events at the criterium track that loops around the hockey complex.
Regional championships would bring cyclists to Taree from Newcastle through to Grafton.
“We’ll be having our major criterium event here again in October that we started last year,’’ he said.
He added that work is expected to be finished on the hockey extension by September.
“So that will be our first hitout.’’
He added the criterium track is believed to be the only one in NSW withlighting and this will be a further boost in any bid to attract events here.
The club will be able to store gear at the headquarters along with specialised training equipment. This will particularly benefit the club’s juniors.
Mr Cross said the cycle club will provide $400,00 towards the overall cost of the work.
Manning Hockey Association president Debbie Monck confirmed the third synthetic surface hockey field will be multi-use. Work will start on construction of the field soon.
The association has spoken with Football Mid North Coast about the possibility of playing soccer on the field.
“Junior cricket’s another potential user,’’ she said.
“This for the community, not just hockey. It’s a great thing.’’
Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead praised the manner in which the cycle club and hockey association worked together to ensure State and federal funding for the project.
“The two have combined to ensure there’s a great result for the community with the building of this facility,’’ he said.
He added that the two sports will ensure the complex is used all year.
Member for Lyne, Dr David Gillespie said he looks forward to major hockey and cycling events being held here regularly held here once the project in completed.