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General News

10 September, 2021

Future of triathlon unclear

THE future of the Yungaburra triathlon remains clouded after Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) agreed to withdraw its financial support of the iconic local event.

By Michael Warren

TRC voted to withdraw their financial support of the Yungaburra Triathlon.
TRC voted to withdraw their financial support of the Yungaburra Triathlon.

THE future of the Yungaburra triathlon remains clouded after Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) agreed to withdraw its financial support of the iconic local event. 

TRC did however move to confirm it does intend to assist the community in identifying a “sustainable event model for the future”.

 The discussion about its future started normally enough with the Officer recommending a motion to support the continuation of the Yungaburra triathlon and to endorse a budget adjustment of $30,000 for the 20-21 financial year to engage an events manager to run the event. 

However in a surprise move Cr Cardew, during discussion said the time for Council’s support of the Yungaburra triathlon “has come and gone” and that “we’re flogging a dead horse” by continuing to inject funds into the event to keep it afloat. 

Instead Mr Cardew immediately tabled a new motion “that Council does not support funding the continuation of the Yungaburra triathlon”. 

The motion, seconded by Cr Hodge, continued to be debated before the new motion was carried 5-2, leaving the planning of next year’s event up in the air. 

Meantime, Council carried a 6-1 vote to appoint temporary contracted managers at Lakeside Motor Inn and Caravan Park from September. 

The decision though wasn’t without controversy, when, during discussion Cr Cardew recommended to close the park altogether, but to continue the garden and open spaces upkeep. 

In response Cr Bilney said he was against any potential closure of the park while Cr Wilkes said Council faced serious “reputational damage” if any move was made by TRC to shut the gates at the Caravan Park. 

Lastly, those invested in the future of Yungaburra Memorial Hall now face a clear “use it or lose it” scenario with clear guidelines in place to determine the aging facility’s ongoing future. 

Under the officer’s recommendation Council will use the following assessment parameters “evidence of multiple ongoing periodic (weekly) bookings and multiple bookings per month, for uses that cannot be provided to the same standard of service or better in other Council or privately owned facilities located within Yungaburra.” 

In other words the hall needs to be consistently utilized or it faces a different future.

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