Karting Championships and Longreach festival postponed from Covid outbreak

From Queensland championship races to a two-day festival empowering regional women, here is how the three-day lock down will affect Central Queensland events.

More than 270 drivers have had to change their plans after the Queensland Karting championships were postponed due to a Covid lockdown. Photo: Ben Turnbull

Karting Queensland’s State Championships was just one of the events to be postponed due to the three-day lockdown announced on Tuesday for southeast Queensland, Townsville, Palm Island and Magnetic Island.

The statewide competition was expected to attract more than 270 racers to Emerald on Thursday for the three day event.

Emerald members are hoping the event will continue during the school holidays, although Karting Queensland officials are expected to meet on Tuesday night to discuss their options.

Emerald Karting Club will potentially continue with a race meet on the weekend for locals and people still able to travel to the region.

Visit the Emerald Karting Club Facebook page for more information.

Central Highlands Regional Council has also cancelled its grant writing and copyright training workshops as the facilitator has been unable to travel to the region.

The workshops, which were scheduled for July 3 and 4, are expected to be postponed to a later date.

Anyone who has signed up or is interested should visit the website or Facebook page for updates.

Central Queenslanders expecting to attend the 2021 Women of the World (WOW) Festival at Longreach have also been forced to postpone plans.

WOW announced on Tuesday that a new date for the event, originally scheduled for July 2 and 3, would be announced later in the week.

“We are deeply disappointed to announce that due to the current uncertainty around the spread of COVID 19 in Queensland, we have made a decision, in consultation with Longreach Regional Council and local partners, to postpone this weekend’s WOW Longreach until later in the year,” the announcement read.

“It is inappropriate for us to bring a number of speakers and performers from southeast Queensland into a regional community at this time.”

Ticket holders have been advised of their options, and anyone interested in attending the event is encouraged to follow updates on the website and social media channels.