$500,000 events promise for Lardner Park

THE FARM World Field Days site at Lardner Park is a crucial tourism and events venue for the Warragul, Drouin and district communities, and not just for the annual field days, Australia’s biggest.

And as recognition of the role it plays in major events, the Liberals and Nationals are promising to provide a $500,000 Events Program boost over the next four years.

Initially established off the back of the Farm World Agricultural Field Days, the site is now home to more than 120 events across the year, including the field days, a major drawcard for the Gippsland community.

The Coalition says the Events Program funding of $500,000 over four years will deliver a range of critical improvements, strategic planning and upgrades so that Lardner Park can modernise and grow.

Part of the funding will develop a strategic plan and masterplan for the site, providing the future growth plan to attract additional major events and associated tourists.

The funding will also go towards improvements across the site, considering the need for an indoor space, and the upgrading of a range of older assets, including the outdoor toilet blocks, site management areas, undercover pavilions and more.

Shadow Minister for the Events Industry, David Southwick, said Lardner Park is a critical tourism and events based space, located just 10 minutes outside Warragul and Drouin.

“This funding will deliver a range of critical improvements, strategic planning and upgrades so that Lardner Park can modernise and grow.

“It will allow Lardner Park to deliver multiple large scale events on site to service a range of community based organisations, not-for-profit organisations, music events and other promoter based experiences.”

Liberal Candidate for Narracan, Wayne Farnham, who aims to take over from the popular Liberal MP, Gary Blackwood, said it was a great announcement for the community.

“Lardner Park has hosted Farm World since 1963, a major event for our area, and this announcement will encourage the show’s growth, and attract more like it.”

The Nationals Candidate for Narracan, Shaun Gilchrist, said this funding would put Lardner Park on the map for prospective events.

“Lardner Park is already a tourism award-winner and this funding will allow for more events on a larger scale, which will be a huge benefit to our communities.”