SDRC makes surprising call on Leyburn Sprints fees in light of $15k excess costs

With the iconic event’s organisers battling whopping excess costs of up to $15K, Southern Downs councillors have gone against a recommendation to keep the race day moving.

Southern Downs councillors have moved against an agenda recommendation to give one of the region’s most iconic sporting events a last-minute financial reprieve.

The Historic Leyburn Sprints is set to make its eagerly awaited return this weekend after organisers were forced to postpone the event from August due to the southeast Queensland Covid lockdown.

This postponement was yet another setback for the popular event, which was cancelled entirely last year at the height of the Covid pandemic.

Sprints president Patricia Chant wrote to Southern Downs Regional Council on August 26 requesting the council waive the event’s temporary permit fee for this year.

“The postponement of the event has not come without incurred expenses,” the letter read.

“To save $1395 on the temporary event permit would go a long way to ensuring that we can remain viable for this event.”

The letter stated event organisers would incur whopping additional supplier costs between $12,000 and $15,000 for facilities such toilets and showers, on top of their usual $30,000 outlay.

Despite the recommendation from council officers to deny the fee waiver, Southern Downs councillors overruled to instead unanimously approve the reprieve.

Councillor Marco Gliori said he was happy to agree with the decision to approve the waiver fee.

“These are extreme circumstances and it’s a sad time in our society where events have been cancelled left, right and centre. But the fact they’re persevering and still have enough volunteers and community sentiment to move forward, then I would certainly support this,” he said.

Councillor Jo McNally agreed stating that because of the uncertain times it was in the community’s best interest to waiver the “small amount” to ensure the event could go ahead as planned.