Lockyer Valley Events and Showgrounds Precinct site

Council decides on Lockyer Valley Events and Showgrounds Precinct site

IN an exciting move for the Lockyer Valley region, Council has decided on the site for what will be the new Lockyer Valley Events and Showgrounds Precinct.

The new site received unanimous support when it went before Council last week and will be situated at Smithfield Road, close to the Gatton township, on land which was purchased by Council for the purposes of a new events precinct some years ago.

Council's Mayor Steve Jones said following wide consultation with user groups, interested parties were thrilled with the proposal.

We have consulted closely with the groups who will be the primary users of this facility in years to come, including the Gatton Show Society who are delighted with the new site.

However this site is not just about the Gatton Show, this is an events precinct that will be able to stage major events such as music festivals, expos and large field days all year round.

This is a project which has been on the table for the region for many years and I'm pleased to see it progress with Council making a formal decision on the site, Cr Jones said.

With plans well advanced for emergency services to relocate their facilities to the current Gatton Showgrounds site, and the new Lockyer Valley Sports and Aquatic Centre now using a significant portion of that land, Council believes now is the time to progress the new events precinct site.

We want this to be a facility that capitalises on the great location adjacent to the Warrego Highway and near to proposed passenger railway access all within a stone's throw of the centre of Gatton.

Obviously this project will rely on a number of funding sources to make it a reality including State Government funds already received, Council's own funding, external grants funds, as well as funds from groups who could become permanent tenants of the facility who would also be eligible to apply for their own external grants from various sources to develop this facility in what will likely be a staged process.

The new site will be several times the size of the current location and potentially one of the biggest event and showground precincts in the country which will cater for the expanded Gatton Show and a myriad of other events held through the year, he said.

Cr Jones said to be located next to heavily populated horticulture-growing areas was the perfect location.

Horticulture is our backbone, so this is undoubtedly the right fit.

We have travelled around to look at many other events precincts and infrastructure that's required to ensure this move will enable us to expand and take on new projects.

The potential here is endless and Council will work tirelessly to attract new events and user groups to this site.

This is an exciting development for the entire region, Cr Jones said.