Next year’s country shows have been locked in after the NSW Government agreed to show-specific COVID safe guidelines, and they should be the best ever thanks to significant NSW Government investment over the past six months according to Clarence Nationals MP, Chris Gulaptis. Maclean Show will be on 20 and 21 April, Grafton will quickly follow on 23 and 24 April while the Casino Show will take place in the beef capital from 21 to 23 October, just before the Lismore Show. Mr Gulaptis said 2020 had been a sad year without country shows but that the Nationals in Government had seized the moment to fund better infrastructure at all three facilities in the Clarence and Richmond Valleys. “There will be an improved electrical system and much better lighting at the Grafton Showground and a wide range of improvements at Maclean Showground thanks to a series of grants from the NSW Nationals in Government,” Mr Gulaptis said. “Casino Showground has new flooring and a new kitchen and earlier this month the Nationals provided the Casino Showground and Racecourse a further $8.2 million, which will fund an indoor equestrian arena, redevelopment of the stables, and renewal of the sand track and racecourse.” Richmond Valley Council Mayor Robert Mustow said the time was right for this type of redevelopment to ensure not only current activities survived and flourished, but for new ones to start up. “The showgrounds have an important historical and social significance and are home of the Casino Show, the Beef Week and Gold Cup races, gymkhanas and camp drafts but you can do so much more with it,” Cr Mustow said.