The Canberra Raiders have shown their support of the proposed redevelopment of the Bega Recreation Ground by agreeing to play a trial match in Bega should the upgrade go ahead.
The Bega Valley Shire Council are currently applying for a grant from the New South Wales Government to complete the project which will see the ground become a sporting hub within the district.
Having travelled to Bega to meet with the Bega Valley Shire Council, the Canberra Raiders Board and CEO Don Furner, expressed their wishes to play a trial game at the redeveloped ground.
“If they get the funding and upgrade the facility we will play a trial game there heading into the 2019 season,” Furner said. “We’re looking at this as a cross-border relationship so we don’t see these borders around the ACT.”
Part of this relationship with the Bega Valley Shire Council, includes the Raiders desire to increase the number of resources in the area.
However, this ability to resource regional New South Wales is dependent on the proposed Canberra Region Centre of Excellence.
“If we were to set up a Centre of Excellence we would get more resources to service the regional areas, and Bega is one of those areas,” Furner said. “Having this Centre of Excellence would mean we can employ more development officers, we can get out to the regions better and can run a lot more clinics, therefore, giving those country kids the same opportunities as the kids in the big city.”
The redevelopment of the Bega Recreation Ground is stage one of proposed upgrades to sports facilities in the region.
