It has been a long wait for the Riding for the Disabled in Goulburn for a permanent location.
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Currently operating at the Rosemont Road property, they have been looking to relocate to a suitable site permanently for the past three years.
Jo Grove, RDA coach and secretary feels fortunate that they were able to operate out of the Rosemont facility owned by Kath Cole on a free lease agreement.
"However, we need a permanent home now," she said.
In the search for such a location, RDA has been working with the Goulburn Mulwaree Council for the past three years.
The RDA centre first operated at the Goulburn TAFE campus. In the year 2000, the TAFE campus grounds became unavailable and the organisation had to move to the Rosemont Equestrian Centre at 612 Rosemont Road.
Goulburn Riding for the Disabled is a charity accredited with Riding for the Disabled Association (NSW) and is run solely by a group of volunteers.
A similar situation is being experienced by the Goulburn Campdraft Association.
Club president Campbell Boileau said that they have been operating on private land since the club started five years ago.
"For the last three years, we have been searching for a site where the club can be relocated permanently," he said.
Now, these two groups have decided to join hands and have lodged an Expression Of Interest (EOI) for council farmland which is situated in close proximity to the city.
Mr Boileau said that they decided to combine their resources because "they could do more together than individually".
"Hopefully, we can create something that can help equine groups in the district because there is no such facility available here now," he said.
Both RDA and Campdraft Association plan to be housed on the same premises. However, they will continue to function as separate entities.
"If we are successful in our application, we plan to build a high-end multi-purpose equine facility for the Goulburn community," Mrs Grove said.
"We will be able to hire out the premises to the equine community."
Mr Boileau would like to hold training courses and club days and have an indoor facility where events don't have to be cancelled due to weather conditions.
"If finalised, it will be a good facility not just for us but for the equine community," he said.
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