Bega: Proposed $15m expansion for Bega Showground awaiting approval

A proposed $15m expansion and upgrade of the Bega Showground is awaiting council approval, after the show management team lodged plans. Find out what is proposed.

The Bega Showground could soon be upgraded with more than $15m worth of upgrades.

A south coast showground used for agricultural shows and sporting events could receive a major, multimillion-dollar facelift.

A development application (DA) was submitted by the Bega Showground Management team for more than $15 million worth of upgrades to the showground, located at 1 Upper St, Bega, which is now awaiting approval.

The plans are currently on public exhibition on the Bega Valley Shire Council website.

A Bega Show Committee spokesman said the upgrades were ‘needed’ and would see new facilities built, existing facilities upgraded and a two-storey ‘Showground Community Centre’ built next to the existing pavilion if approved.

“This showground has been in use since it was first opened in 1905,” the spokesman said. “This upgrade will do so much and we are so excited.”

The spokesman said the ‘Showground Community Centre’ would house new facilities and give visitors and community groups more room for functions.

An artist's impression of the new Community Centre planned for the Bega Showground.

Planning documents state the ground floor of the proposed centre would include a function room, integrated reception and office area, lift and stairs, as well as a connection area to the adjoining heritage-listed existing pavilion.

The second floor of the centre would include another function room and a ticket office integrated with a covered walkway with turnstiles.

A look at the proposed upgrades for the Bega Showground.

“The proposed function room will open out onto a covered veranda offering views to the east over the showground arena,” the documents state.

New facilities around the showground would also be built if the development was approved, including a new stage, bar, yarning circle and footpaths connecting the grounds to the memorial pool.

While the existing showground building would remain, planning documents state multiple existing structures would be demolished, to make way for new facilities to replace them.

“The DA is seeking consent for the full demolition of the separate ‘gate house’, ‘caretaker’s residence’, ‘committee room’, ‘tea room’, ‘lunch space/store’ and ‘foyer to pavilion’ buildings as well as the partial demolition of the ‘former poultry pavilion’ building, which are situated to the south of the Bega Showground Pavilion,” the document states.

“It is noted that such buildings were assessed as having low heritage significance and are proposed for demolition to make way for the construction of the new Bega Showground Community Centre as proposed in this current application.”

Public exhibition of the DA for the showground ends on May 15.