THE Dirt ’n’ Dust committee was pressured by the Julia Creek community not to cancel the triathlon event even though it was $100,000 under budget in January.
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Economic and drought conditions were making it harder to collect sponsorship for the triathlon event.
Dirt ’n’ Dust’s committee president, Stephen Mallone, said a study completed two years ago showed that the event generated about $800,000 for the region annually.
The community pushed to continue the event because of the social occasion and the economic boost.
It meant committee members worked hard to make the event work, Mr Mallone said.
He said the committee was criticised for not making the event profitable instead of relying on sponsorship, but this would not be such a big issue if the event had more support and new committee members.
This year the committee has paid to have 30 Townsville-based staff working at the festival.
Businesses like Mr Mallone’s supermarket Godiers Friendly Grocer depended on Dirt ’n’ Dust to boost income.
Tourists throughout the rest of the year were not big spenders, preferring to buy basics like bread, milk and fuel.
The community’s economic dependence could not be blamed entirely on drought, Mr Mallone said.
Some community members preferred to drive 137km to Cloncurry to shop at Woolworths instead of buying from local shops.
McKinlay Shire Mayor Belinda Murphy said Dirt ’n’ Dust played an important part in Julia Creek’s social calendar but there were other important events as well.
“All your events, especially during times of drought, really help local businesses,” she said.
But combined economic problems caused by drought and the mining downturn were the reasons why it was increasingly hard for the event to find sponsorship. Cr Murphy said Dirt ’n’ Dust was an important outlet for remote station workers, and was a great occasion for the community to get together.
