North Burnett council decision could kill agricultural shows

The Burnett could be about to lose four of its country shows following a council decision to no longer be responsible for local showgrounds, leaving already struggling show societies to bear the costs of rates, fees and maintenance. Full report and reaction:

North Burnett show society presidents (from left) Peter Dingle, Paul Francis and Cameron Polzin.

Show societies across the North Burnett have said recent moves by the North Burnett Regional Council to transfer trusteeship of showgrounds to the volunteer-run groups could mean the end of local agricultural shows in the region.

In June 2021, the council passed a resolution to remove itself as trustee for the Gayndah, Eidsvold, Monto and Mt Perry Showgrounds “and negotiate a model similar to that of the Biggenden and Mundubbera Showgrounds”.

The Biggenden and Mundubbera Showgrounds currently operate independently of the North Burnett council.

The motion remained underground until October 2023, when the Gayndah, Monto and Mt Perry show societies received correspondence from the council confirming the decision would come to a head in the new year.

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In December, the show societies were asked to sign an official Deed of Agreement to Transfer Trusteeship notice by January 31, 2024.

The bright lights of the Monto show in 2019. This year’s show might now be its last.

The show societies said the notice came as an unexpected and “heavy-handed” shock, with the volunteer-run societies left to consider a bleak future unaided by the guidance and financial support of the council.

Gayndah Show Society president Cameron Polzin said while the show society had been managing the day-to-day needs of the showgrounds, the deed change would put significant financial pressure on the organisation.

He said the show society did not know what was causing the council’s sudden urge to step away from the trusteeship, but speculated it was due to the March 2024 local government elections and the council’s transition to caretaker mode as of February 1.

The show society had 16 years left on its lease of the showgrounds and the added pressure of annual rates would be detrimental to the future of the show.

Gayndah show society president Cameron Polzin also owns a butcher shop in the Gayndah area, and said local businesses may lose out if local shows fold under financial pressure.

“The long and the short of it is the extra expense, the council don’t want it (the trusteeship) anymore because they say it costs them too much,” he said.

“Over the 16 years of the lease, at $10,000 a year for rates, we will have to find at least another $160,000 out of our income somewhere.”

Mr Polzin said like most regional show societies, they liked to keep their kitty as low as necessary to support future events, using any extra income to invest back into the community.

Pressures from forced event closures during Covid and rising insurance costs had put the show society in a less-than-desirable financial position, which would only be compounded by the added burden of rates.

Mr Polzin said he had made several attempts to speak to councillors and Mayor Les Hotz to discuss a rate discount, but was unable to get a firm answer.

Monto Show Society president and former North Burnett councillor Paul Francis said while he understood the reasoning behind the council’s withdrawal he was not happy with how it had been handled.

Monto has not yet made a decision on whether or not it accept trusteeship of the showground, and Mr Francis said there had been little genuine discussion about what the transfer would look like, and what costs the show society would have to carry in the years ahead.

“What concerns us the most is the raft of fees and charges that will come across to the show society when we bear full responsibility for the grounds,” he said.

Monto show society president Paul Francis said he understood the decision but that more negotiations were needed.

The show society expected its annual expenses may rise by $18,000 a year, possibly more, under updated insurance policies, which would put them under “significant” stress.

“There’s no doubt that it will put us in a tenuous position, and until we can find a way to deal with those extra costs and charges it will certainly jeopardise the future of the show and the show society,” Mr Francis said.

While he said he had made ground with Mr Hotz in organising more time for discussion, the society needed an onsite meeting with the council.

He hoped the show society would be able to expand its income by allowing commercial camping at the grounds, but that option was not available for Mt Perry.

Show society president Peter Dingle has said under the current lease agreement, the show society was unable to host campers for longer than 72 hours and was prevented from allowing a caretaker to oversee the grounds.

He said if the show society was to take over the trusteeship, it would have to “lock the gates” almost year round, due the inability for the volunteer group to maintain the grounds on a week-by-week basis.

With the option to bring in additional income removed from the show society, Mr Dingle expects the Mt Perry show may only “last 12 months” before financial pressures force it under.

Mt Perry show society president Peter Dingle has a long history with the show society, and regional shows as a woodchopper and farmer. Photo Anastassia Perets / Central and North Burnett Times

He was also concerned if the show society did not accept the trusteeship it may be transferred to an independent organisation that did not respect or understand the needs of a show society at the grounds.

While Mr Dingle has said he is unsure of what the added cost would be for the show society, it would add unforeseen pressure.

“We’re really going to battle to survive,” he said.

“To possibly lose four regional shows in the Burnett subchamber, it would be a huge loss.”

The North Burnett Council was contacted to explain the decision and the sudden pressure placed on the show societies.

“Council endeavours to provide equitable support to our communities’ various organisations and this resolution works toward providing consistency of services across the region,” a spokesperson said.

“Council is committed to working with communities to achieve the outcome envisaged by council’s resolution and discussions with various show societies are ongoing.”

The Eidsvold Show Society was contacted but chose not to comment.