Show must go on

THE Pakenham and District Agricultural and Horticultural Society has dismissed rumours that Saturday’s show will be its last.
After months of speculation about its future, following the sale of the Pakenham Racecourse, the society has revealed a list of options for relocation of the annual event.
When the Pakenham Racing Club shifts to Tynong next year, the show will have to find a new place to call home after 54 years at the current site.
While it will be the end of an era, the committee is determined to make a smooth transition and find a new spot as soon as possible.
President of the show society Geoff Young said the committee had been working with Cardinia Shire and the decision was in the council’s hands.
He denied rumours that the show would merge with the Berwick Show and said it was an important iconic event in the shire.
“We approached the council and have come up with three ideas, the council has offered us the former tip site on Bald Hill Road and Five Mile Road,” Mr Young said.
“It is a green site – so it would take us a couple of years to get it underway.”
There is also the possibility of using the PB Ronald Reserve near the hall as a temporary location while the infrastructure is built at the old tip site.
Mr Young said the reserve would make a good temporary location while the committee looks into the old tip site and the infrastructure needed there.
“If that doesn’t go ahead the only other option is to move it to Berwick or Lang Lang,” he said.
The committee quashed the rumour that it would move to Berwick to merge with the show at Akoonah Park.
Mr Young said if the show moved to Berwick it would be temporary.
“It still must be the Pakenham Show,” Mr Young said.
The company that bought the racing site in May 2012, property fund managers Industry Superannuation Property Trust (ISPT), plans to turn the land into housing developments.
“ISPT have indicated that we won’t be able to use the site,” he said.
“If we accept the vacant land on Bald Hill Road we will need a temporary site and we will need funding for the buildings.
“We would need a home for the 2014-2015 shows.”
Mr Young said the committee was also looking for a place to store its equipment in the interim once the racing club vacates the Pakenham site.
He said to lose the show would be a great shame for the shire.
“My view is that I don’t want to see it go into recession,” he said.
“And to lose the identity of the show… well, keeping it going is an essential.”
Cardinia Shire Council’s communications manager Paul Dunlop said the council was working with the society to investigate the possible venues available.
“Cardinia Shire Council is mindful that the sale and future redevelopment of Pakenham Racecourse means a suitable new location for the Pakenham Show must be found to assure its continuation,” he said.
“Council and the Pakenham and District Agricultural and Horticultural Society are currently working together to investigate and assess possible future sites for the show.”