New supercars deal edges closer

A NEW deal that would see the Townsville 400 Supercars event stay in the city for up to another five years is moving closer to the finish line.

Supercars general manager corporate affairs Cole Hitchcock said a deal was “very close” as negotiations with the State Government and Townsville City Council continued. There is strong support for the event to stay in Townsville after the contract expired after this year’s weekend of racing.

A DEAL to keep the Supercars roaring in Townsville is “very close”, according to organisers.

Supercars general manager of corporate affairs Cole Hitchcock made the comment yesterday as negotiations continue with the State Government and Townsville City Council on funding to support the event for a further five years.

“We are definitely intending to announce the 2020 calendar in the coming weeks. It’s a work in progress. We are very much looking forward to that announcement,” Mr Hitchcock said.

He said the negotiations with the State Government on both the Townsville and Gold Coast events were ongoing “but very close”.

A three-year agreement with the State Government expired with the running of the Townsville 400 last month and the city now is looking to lock in a longer-term deal.

Townsville City Council considered a report by its Future Cities branch on a Supercars grant and partnership application in a closed meeting last month.

The council unanimously approved the issuing of a Partnership Funding Agreement to Supercars and that the report be deemed confidential.

Deputy Mayor Les Walker said yesterday that no decision had been made or finalised.

He could not provide detail of any package of support that would be provided but made clear the council wanted the event to continue.

“We’d love it for the city. It’s been fantastic for Townsville,” Cr Walker said.

He said the event had given a “whole new look” on Townsville on how it was positioned, not only locally but nationally and internationally.

“It projects Townsville to the world,” Cr Walker said.

According to council minutes released about consideration of the funding agreement, the Townsville 400 is one of Townsville’s and Queensland’s signature events, attracting over 120,000 attendees, and is the secondlargest event in Queensland.

It says Supercars is seeking renewed funding from the council during the next five years.

According to reports in 2016, the State Government was believed to have provided more than $20 million over three years to the Gold Coast and Townsville events, with Townsville said to have secured about a third of that figure, reflecting the per capita value of each event.

A State Government spokesman said last month that events supported by Tourism and Events Queensland were worth over $800 million to the economy, supporting jobs in regional Queensland.