It's a stage fit for the King.
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Quite literally.
The new multipurpose centre - located in Welcome Street in Cooke Park, opposite Cecile Street - is taking grand shape, as is renovations and extensions to the Parkes Library.
Builder Matthew Steventon from Cabonne Constructions in Molong is looking after both multi-million dollar projects.
With travel restrictions slowly easing in NSW, Federal Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack took the opportunity to visit Parkes and Forbes on Thursday afternoon to view the major projects happening in the two towns.
It's been months since Mr McCormack has been able to visit towns in his electorate because of the coronavirus pandemic, lockdowns, people encouraged to stay at home as much as possible to stop the spread of the highly contagious virus and the government dealing with its enormous impacts.
After a tour around Forbes and checking out the 5.5 metre tall and 20 metres from tip to tail metal goanna sculpture and the Central West Livestock Exchange, Mr McCormack and his team headed to Parkes to see the progress of the multipurpose centre and library.
"I was blown away by the size of it," he said about the multipurpose centre.
"There is all that added area and by moving the stage around gives it so much more scope.
"For those who will be on stage, their full presence will be exemplified.
"I can't wait to perform there with the mayor singing Suspicious Minds or Love Me Tender," he laughed.
It's been two years to the month since funding was announced for an $8.5 million Main Street Revitalisation Project and Multipurpose Centre development.
Since then the park and lower end of Clarinda Street have been a hive of activity, with the demolition of the former community centre - where the new multipurpose centre now sits - on July 30 last year kicking off the works.
The new facility is to become the main stage for the town's events in the park, including the Parkes Elvis Festival.
It will be used for a range of community based activities, including public meetings, ceremonies, dance and band practices and stage performances, and is expected to be finished by the end of the year, in time for the 2021 Elvis Festival.
Parkes knows how to spend a dollar and best use it.
- Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack
$2.2 million was allocated in June 2018 to renovate and expand the Parkes Library, with the first sod turned in September last year.
The library's expansion is set to house a Country Universities Centre, which Mr McCormack announced last month.
"This is what this type of funding was meant for," Mr McCormack said.
"It's infrastructure, generating jobs, that is going to help us get out of COVID-19.
"Parkes is a real can-do council... Parkes knows how to spend a dollar and best use it."
ALSO MAKING NEWS:
Christine Little
I love sharing people's stories, particularly local stories that are special and important to the people of Parkes. If there is one thing I have learnt in my 10 years of community journalism, it's that stories are everywhere. All it takes is a good story teller to make it worth reading. Email: christine.little@parkeschampionpost.com.au
I love sharing people's stories, particularly local stories that are special and important to the people of Parkes. If there is one thing I have learnt in my 10 years of community journalism, it's that stories are everywhere. All it takes is a good story teller to make it worth reading. Email: christine.little@parkeschampionpost.com.au
