NEXT year’s Mount Gambier Autofest has been postponed indefinitely as event organisers seek an alternative venue.
While the event has been held for a number of years at the Mount Gambier Showgrounds, Autofest has long been at the centre of controversy given complaints from nearby residents about noise and air pollution.
Mount Gambier Agricultural and Horticultural Society president Kerry Hill said changes to Environment Protection Authority legislation had led the venue owners to decline a request to stage the 2019 event at the central location.
“EPA regulations have changed and restrictions are now enforced at a local level,” Ms Hill told The Border Watch.
“The landowner is now responsible for any infringements and we were not prepared to risk that.
“Previously we hired out the venue and if anything went wrong it was the event organiser’s responsibility.
“We have nothing against the event itself, we just decided given the EPA changes it was best for Autofest to be held at a different venue.”
Ms Hill said the ongoing controversy surrounding the event was also a factor considered by the society.
“We did not want to have the rest of the community offside,” she said.
“It was not a decision we made lightly, but we understand the detrimental impact the event has on nearby residents.”
Autofest manager Les Adams said the event was not yet cancelled, rather it had been postponed indefinitely until an appropriate venue was found.
“So far we have found nothing suitable in the Mount Gambier or Grant district areas,” Mr Adams said.
“We have been looking all over and coming up short.”
Mr Adams blamed a communication breakdown for the late announcement of the event’s temporary cancellation.
“We received a phone call in April to let us know there could be an issue with the venue and I asked the venue owners to send us something formal in writing – we never received anything,” he explained.
“Mount Gambier City Council has always been a great support and is helping us to find an alternative venue.
“It is disappointing, especially given about $80,000 of ratepayers’ money was used to bring the event to Mount Gambier in the first place.
“The infrastructure at the showgrounds was upgraded to accommodate the event and that has improved the facilities at the venue overall.
“If we cannot find another venue or work something out with the show society, we will be forced to pack up and move elsewhere.”
