Tens of thousands of visitors will keep flocking to Agfest and Party in the Paddock each year, with a new fire safety system at Quercus Park clearing a key hurdle for the events to keep running.
The $650,000 upgrade includes two tanks holding a combined 300,000 litres of water for fire safety across the site.
Rural Youth Tasmania fundraised part of the cost and ran the project, with the state government contributing about $500,000.
Rural Youth Tasmania state president Amber Bramich said the project had been two years in the making.
“It’s fantastic to finally have it signed off and ready to use should there be a fire event,” Bramich said.
“Hopefully we don’t need to use it.”
She said the upgrade was critical for keeping the venue compliant and insurable as the cost of running events climbs.
“That is the make or break of being able to run events,” she said.
AgFest alone draws around 60,000 people to Quercus Park each year. Party in the Paddock pulls in thousands more.
The site also hosts the Launceston Show, Magic Millions Horse Sales and school groups throughout the year.
Bramich said other event organisers had expressed interest in hiring the venue and the new infrastructure was expected to open the door to more bookings.
Gandy and Roberts Engineers and Sapphire Consulting designed the system. Southern Plumbing carried out the works.
The fire safety upgrade follows a wastewater treatment overhaul at Quercus Park in 2019.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff, who unveiled the system at Agfest on Friday, said the investment would back young Tasmanians running the events and help grow the state’s visitor economy.
“These are good investments to support events in Tasmania, to support young people having a go and support a growing economy in a regional community,” Rockliff said.
The premier said the state government would keep working with Party in the Paddock organisers on a longer-term funding deal beyond its current commitment to 2027.
