The clouds are clearing both literally and metaphorically from this year's Newcastle Show.
Organisers are celebrating a double victory after burying the hatchet with ride operators on the eve of this weekend's event and securing a $100,000 payment from Venues NSW.
And the weather forecast for the show, so often beset by rain, is looking positive.
The Showmen's Guild, whose members own and operate carnival rides, had threatened to set up a rival carnival at Maitland Showground this weekend after failing to reach a rental agreement with Newcastle Agricultural Horticultural and Industrial Association.
The dispute had threatened to rob the show, which runs from Friday to Sunday, of its amusement rides.
But the two sides have settled on the fee the guild will pay the association to rent space at the showground.
Show president Peter Evans said the fee reflected the financial challenges ride operators had faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Meanwhile, the association has received $100,000 from Venues NSW, a figure the government agency described as an ex gratia payment.
The association had budgeted for the money to help organise and market the show.
The Newcastle Herald reported last month that Venues NSW had not released the final $100,000 of a three-year, $350,000 funding agreement that was due last year.
Mr Evans said at the time that Venues NSW was withholding money the association had raised through parking fees for its weekly farmers market.
But he said on Wednesday that he was "delighted" to have the money in the show association's bank account and hoped the payment would set the right tone for future talks over the showground's future.
"I want to have discussions with them about other major issues before anything dramatic happens to our showground," he said.
The government is planning to redevelop the showground as part of its "Hunter Park" sports and entertainment precinct.
Mr Evans recognised the contributions of Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp, parliamentary secretary for the Hunter Taylor Martin and Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper in securing the Venues NSW funding.
Mr Crakanthorp said he had raised the issue with Acting Sports Minister Geoff Lee and "pressed upon him the urgency and importance of ensuring the Newcastle Show receives these much-needed funds".
"I am pleased that working with the Newcastle Show and the parliamentary secretary for the Hunter we have been able to secure the $100,000 for the event."
The forecast for this weekend in Newcastle is for sunshine and temperatures in the low to middle twenties.
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