Mayor says Show needs new home

RATEPAYERS are being asked to fork out $150,000 to bail out the Gold Coast Show Society for this year despite it surviving on only $7000 and facing a major debt.

In a shock move after a full council meeting started yesterday, Mayor Tom Tate argued that the council considered the show’s current venue at the Gold Coast Turf Club was “unsatisfactory” and future shows should not be held there.

His resolution to councillors was put up on screens as protesting residents sat in the gallery, having earlier watched excavators begin filling in the so-called “borrow pit” at Bundall.

Area councillor Gary Baildon in late 2016 successfully gained support from fellow councillors to fill in the lake because the land could be used as an overflow car park to help attract crowds to the show.

Cr Tate’s original motion was later abandoned after veteran councillor Daphne McDonald successfully argued that councillors should attend a workshop with the show’s committee to consider its future location.

Outside the council meeting, Cr Tate defended the decision both to move the show and fill in the lake.

“It’s not a lake. It’s a borrow pit. There’s a lot of people who like the idea it goes ahead (and is filled in),” he said.

“The pit was dug up. Now it has to be put back. It’s part of town planning.”

Cr Tate blamed the State Government for choosing the turf club site after the show had to be moved from Parklands to allow for development of the Commonwealth Games Athletes Village.

“We’re looking at a longterm solution to make sure ratepayer funds are not subsidising something that’s not going well,” he said.

“The idea of relocating the Gold Coast Show to the Turf Club was done by the State Government. They should be part of helping for a long-term solution.”

At the start of the debate yesterday Cr Tate called the current show venue “unsatisfactory” and argued a new location had to be found for this year after the show society asked for $150,000.

A slide presented to councillors showed the show at Parklands in 2010 had equity of $433,000 and its revenue had reached $844,000.

But profits dropped after moving to the turf club, from $857,000 for the final show at Parklands in 2013 to $568,000 last year at the Bundall equine precinct.

The show lost $188,000 last year and has a current equity of only $7000.

Cr Tate after a meeting with show organisers had learned the show had an outstanding debt of $76,000.

The debate led to the Mayor and veteran rival Dawn Crichlow arguing about the Turf Club’s support for the show.

The Mayor told Cr Crichlow to “take her seat” but she later stood up for a clarification, citing an email as early as January from Turf Club chairman Brett Cook.

She said Mr Cook had written in the email: “The offer by the Gold Coast Turf Club to help run the Gold Coast Show is genuine and it’s still on the table if needed. And if they want to relocate down the track we have no problems.”

Cr Crichlow told the Mayor: “That was January this year – happy times. I’m reading from an email sent to me from Brett Cook.”

Cr Tate: “Well I’ve met with him and the answer is they don’t want it.”

Cr Crichlow: “Well there you go Mr Mayor, that’s what it is all about.”

Cr Tate said it was wrong to suggest the Turf Club wanted to take over the show.

“I cannot take falsehoods from you,” he said.

IT’S NOT A LAKE. IT’S A BORROW PIT. THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE IDEA IT GOES AHEAD (AND IS FILLED IN). THE PIT WAS DUG UP. NOW IT HAS TO BE PUT BACK. IT’S PART OF TOWN PLANNING. MAYOR TOM TATE