Funding boost to expand pub bought by Nyabing community
The farming town of Nyabing has received a boost for expansion after receiving $825,000 in federal funding for its community hub.
Nyabing Progress Association came to public attention in 2014 after buying the only pub in town with funds raised through community cropping.
The association has since turned the fate of the local institution around and do not plan on slowing down any time soon.
The second round of the Federal Government's National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF) will contribute to Nyabing's Community Hub Project.
The $1.65 million project will expand the Nyabing Inn to include accommodation, business offices, a commercial kitchen and music venue.
The funding will be matched dollar for dollar by the community organisation through funds raised by its communal crop and regional grants.
Nyabing Progress Association secretary Christie Smith said the town would be called upon to plan the next phase of expansion.
"It's pretty much a whole redevelopment of our whole social meeting place," she said.
"We've got a fair bit of work to do over the next 12 months and we will work with the community to make sure we're getting what they want to see in that building.
"We'll use locals [for labour] wherever we can."
Ms Smith said she hoped to see four to six self-contained accommodation units completed by mid-2016.
"The accommodation will be of pretty high standard. It will be brand new and we've got nothing like that now," she said.
"We think it'll be a huge drawcard, especially with the pub being run the way it is at the moment.
"We're already seeing people come out from surrounding towns and other places coming in to have a look at the place."
Source: ABC News, Karla Arnall, 10th December 2015
