Brighton ratepayers won’t foot the bill for repairs to a council oval churned up by trucks at last year’s Brighton Show, with councillors voting to make the local agricultural society pay instead.
The Brighton Agricultural Society will pay $21,641.31 for damage to Gunn Oval at Pontville Park on November 9 last year, when trucks were displayed on the ground despite heavy rainfall in the lead-up to the event.
The damage was so significant that two cricket matches scheduled for the following weekends had to be relocated.
The society had offered $8,000 towards the repairs, arguing it could have sourced cheaper materials and machinery through its sponsors had it been given the chance to fix the oval itself.
Ahead of a meeting this week, council staff had recommended a 50/50 split, with the society paying $10,820.65 and ratepayers the rest.
But councillors rejected both figures, instead voting to require the society to pay the full amount over three years.
A council staff member told the meeting the society had been warned it would be liable prior to the event taking place.
Councillor Peter Geard initially moved the staff recommendation but later withdrew it.
Councillor Greg Irons then proposed a three-quarter share to be paid over three years, but that motion was lost.
Councillor Aaron De La Torre then successfully moved that the society pay the full amount over three years.
“A decision was made on the day against council advice,” De La Torre said.
“We have incurred the costs. Someone should pay those and I don’t think it should be our ratepayers.”
Councillor Phil Owen was the only vote against, having earlier raised questions about whether the society’s insurance might cover the damage.
