Batemans Bay will miss out on hosting the annual South Coast Caravan, Camping and Holiday Expo this year.
The event is usually held in November and is one of a program of expos run by the Caravan & Camping Industry Association NSW in Sydney and regional New South Wales.
The Association’s CEO Lyndel Gray contacted Eurobodalla Council this week to advise of major date and venue changes to the Sydney show schedule that will prevent them holding the Batemans Bay show in November.
Ms Gray explained to Council’s General Manager Dr Catherine Dale that construction work at the Penrith Panthers Club has forced the cancellation of the September show in Sydney. The Association subsequently secured the Sydney Showground at Olympic Park for an alternative four-day event.
However, the dates at the Olympic Park venue are only one week prior to when the South Coast Expo at Batemans Bay is usually held, and according to Ms Gray, the Association made the difficult decision to cancel the 2017 Batemans Bay event.
The Association’s website states that the South Coast show is postponed for 2017 due to “its conflict in timing with the new Sydney Showground event”.
Caravan & Camping Association President Theo Whitmont pledged that his organisation will continue to work with Council to develop alternative options to bring the Expo back to Batemans Bay.
“We greatly appreciate the strong partnership we have had with Eurobodalla Shire Council and the Batemans Bay community over many years,” he said.
Council’s General Manager Dr Catherine Dale said Council has been a great supporter of the event.
“We are understandably disappointed with the news as the expo is a valuable event for businesses in Batemans Bay and a wonderful way to showcase Eurobodalla to many visitors,” she said.
“We will however continue to work closely with the NSW Caravan & Camping Industry Association NSW to pursue options to bring the show back to Batemans Bay.” Media Release
