Goulburn Riding for the Disabled (RDA) is working on their DA application in order to lease a 64-hectare property at 632 Taralga Road from the council in a bid to find their forever home.
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After serving the community for 40 years, Goulburn RDA have to move out of the current location at Rosemont Road home and will lease the new property along with Goulburn Campdraft Association where the two equine organisations will carry out their activities.
The work on the DA application has started and will be submitted to the Goulburn Mulwaree Council in the next three months. Once the application is approved, they will then apply for funding from the state and federal governments.
"We need a good facility that can provide services to Goulburn for a long time. There will always be people with the need for what we are doing," Campbell Boileau, president of the Goulburn Campdraft Association said.
David Matthews, president of the Goulburn RDA, said that their biggest task at the moment is to raise funding for the DA. "We are hoping that by 2022, we could have the facility up there," Mr Matthews said.
The community has started rallying behind the cause and they have received $1500 in donations already. A local transport company has donated $1000 while Goulburn Dog Training and Kennel Club has donated $500 for their DA application.
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Goulburn RDA and Goulburn Campdraft Association are looking to raise $50,000 towards the DA application.
Secretary and coach Jo Grove has asked local businesses and individuals to support the cause. All donations made will be on the recognition board which will be mounted in the indoor arena.
"RDA Goulburn needs a permanent home to secure its future. It would be a devastating loss to the Goulburn and surrounding community if we have to close," she said.
"We are on a private property at the moment which limits our hours of operation. When we get to the new location, we are going to expand and have more operating days. There is also potential to hire out the facilities when it's not being used by the two groups so we are able to generate money to keep RDA self-funded and use it for maintenance of the premises."
RDA Goulburn also has plans to build a dedicated native sensory garden for the community where people with disabilities can go out and enjoy the outdoors.
"The new facility will have a dedicated area for the native sensory garden that can be accessed by the elderly and those affected by dementia etc. They will have a place where they can go and embrace nature. If they want to go and read a book or paint, they can sit in the garden and do that," she added.
A facility funding proposal has also been put together by the Goulburn RDA which gives a glimpse into their vision and objectives.
RDA Goulburn has been running since 1980 by volunteers and provides riding therapy, training and safety programs for people with disabilities.
If anyone wishes to donate, contact Goulburn RDA via email goulburnrda@gmail.com or make the donation on their website www.rdanswgoulburn.org.au. You can also call Jo Grove on 0490 668 327 and Campbell Boileau on 0428 483 501.
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