Federal Labor Candidate for Parkes Jack Ayoub said the funding would help transform the racecourse into an all-weather, multi-function centre where individuals and organisations can hold various events.

Mr Ayoub said the funding is essential, as the facilities are used for more than just race days.

“One of the largest equestrian expo’s in the Southern Hemisphere uses the race club as one of their bases,” he said.

“There was a danger of losing them to other regional centres with better facilities, but this ensures the big events remain and hopefully attracts more events.

“It also holds weddings; committee groups meet there regularly, plenty of areas in the community use it.

“There are a few pillars that keep these communities going and this race club happens to be one of them.”

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Coonabarabran Jockey Club president Stewart Rodgers said the club would be happy to get funding for improvements to its facilities. 

“We believe our track needs some work to improve its surface and we want to make the racecourse a community facility that is popular and can be used by more groups than it is now,” he said.

“We want it to become a multi-function centre if we glass in a couple of the areas to make them weatherproof that could be achieved.

“We did apply for a grant with the current federal government from the public reserve management fund, but we were unsuccessful so we’d be excited if the Labor party got elected and we got this $150,000.”

Mr Ayoub said he has a long association with the race club.

“My uncle was quite a prominent horse trainer across New South Wales, and we went to plenty of race meetings in Coonabarabran,” he said.

“The infrastructure we’ve got there is last century, and this will allow it to be brought into this century and hopefully last us another.

“If you back in that race club, you’re ensuring the longevity of a community – that’s the way I look at it.”

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Shadow Minister for Regional Services Stephen Jones congratulated Mr Ayoub on securing this funding for his local community.

“This is a great outcome for Coonabarabran, and it comes on the back of hard work and commitment from Jack Ayoub.”

“While the Coalition is obsessed with their own internal politics, Labor is focused on providing improvements for Regional Australians.”