New venue won’t hurt show

The Albany Agricultural Society is confident this year’s Albany Agricultural Show will run smoothly despite a short-term change of venue.

The show will move to a new home at the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre and surrounding grounds this year as the eastern precinct of the Centennial Park sporting precinct redevelopment is completed.

The temporary new home for one year was endorsed by the City of Albany Council and has involved regular meetings to ensure a smooth transition.

Members of the society and the City met at the grounds last Friday to continue regular meetings and discuss the finer details of the show’s operation for 2017.

Society president Rob Wright said planning a new layout around the grounds of the leisure centre was providing challenges, but he believed preparation was on track.

“I’m confident it will be a good show, but we have had to modify accordingly, but it will still be a good show,” he said.

“The City is working hard with us to try and accommodate us to the best of their ability.

“I’m confident we will get things happening and everything will come together.”

City of Albany manager of recreation services Samantha Stevens said the show would be staged successfully thanks to continued co-operation by both parties.

“We have been meeting regularly with the Agricultural Society to work through the detail of the show layout at the new venue,” she said.

“The collaboration and goodwill between both parties to ensure the show is staged successfully this year has been wonderful, and regular user groups of ALAC and our grounds have been very understanding and co-operative.

“We are grateful for the support of these groups and encourage the community to get behind and support the show in November.”