TOWNSVILLE SHOWGROUND WILL NOT BE MOVED

Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace today announced that a consultants’ report into Townsville Showground recommended keeping the showground at its present site.

Mr Wallace said consultants AECgroup found the current West End showground site was preferred to sites at Bohle, Kelso, Cluden and Herveys Range Road on economic, social and environmental grounds.

The consultants recommended that the showgrounds be revitalised at the current site rather than relocated.

However, they said the current showground was not suitable for high-impact events such as motor racing and outdoor concerts.

“A survey of community attitudes by the consultants found that Townsville people see no reason to change the showgrounds,” Mr Wallace said.

“The government accepts this independent recommendation – the showgrounds will not be moved,” he said.

Premier Anna Bligh announced in June last year that an independent consultant would be appointed to examine relocating the showgrounds after community concern about holding high-impact events such as speedway at the West End site.

The AECgroup completed the Land Use Options Report: A Strategic Planning Evaluation of the Townsville Showgrounds Site and Alternative State Land on the Bohle Plains last month.

The report said the cost of developing a new showground on a greenfields site was almost equal to the likely return from the sale of the Woolcock Street site.

However it said when factors such as building new infrastructure at any greenfields site were taken into account, and the fact that heritage factors would limit any redevelopment of the current site, relocation would incur significant cost.

Minister Wallace said the report supported a revitalisation of the current site rather than relocation.

“The report said the current site is very well placed to improve its commercial viability and contribution to the community and region,” he said.

The report suggests opportunities to increase the showground’s commercial viability include:

·A Master Plan should be done to revitalise the showground.

·Greater utilisation for community events

·Development of facilities for conventions, trade shows and field days.

·Increased use of nearby sites, such as Reid Park, for storage and services during events on site.

“Townsville is booming and it is vital that we do much more detailed planning for our region’s future needs,” he said.

Member for Townsville, Mike Reynolds, welcomed the announcement that the showground would stay at its current site.

“I’m pleased the report has reflected the views of the Townsville community,” Mr Reynolds said.

“A rejuvenation of the site will be a great boost for the organisations who use the showgrounds and Townsville residents will be able to enjoy an improved local facility.”

Minister Wallace said he had already asked Member for Townsville, Mike Reynolds, Townsville Mayor Tony Mooney and Showground head Chris Condon to meet with him as soon as possible to discuss what can be done to improve the showground.

Mr Wallace said that the report found there were two constraints on the current showground site.

It said the West End site was physically constrained on all sides and better use had to be made of existing space to allow it to continue into the future.

It also said, while the site was well placed for low and medium impact events, high noise events such as motor sports are not suitable for the area other than events associated with the annual show or pre-approved by local government.

Mr Wallace said the showground study was important because it helped the Townsville community look at its future recreation needs in a professional, planned way.

Media enquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.