Throughout the Hunter, showgrounds are managed by volunteer trusts, but this could all change when new Crown Land Laws come into effect.
The new Crown Lands Management Act 2016 will be able to transfer a wide range of Crown Lands to local councils and other government agencies.
Shadow Minister for Primary Industries Mick Veitch sees the move as yet another example of the National Party failing rural and regional communities.
"There's a real risk under the new laws that the minister of the day can transfer crown land including showgrounds to your local council to manage. What that means is, if the councils keen to sell off and develop that land they can do so under the new regime," said Mick Veitch.
The changes to the laws would see the showgrounds most likely taken out of the trust hands and transferred to local councils and government who would be likely to sell the community assets, particularly if they are strapped for cash.
"Right across the Hunter there are showgrounds managed by hard working trusts and these trusts need support and they need support from the community as well as government. What I'm saying to the minister, is we need to make sure the communities continue to have a say in the management of these showgrounds via the trust system."
NSW Labor sought to move amendments to the Crown Lands laws which would have prevented councils reclassifying Crown Land as "operational" land that could be sold off.
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| Image @MickVeitchMLC |
