Newcastle Show organisers have extended a $5000 "olive branch" to try to resolve a financial dispute with carnival ride operators, but the offer was quickly rejected.
The Newcastle Heraldreported on Thursday morning that the show committee was locked in a bitter dispute with the Showmens Guild of Australasia over the amount it charges ride operators to access the show.
The Newcastle Agricultural Horticultural and Industrial Association wanted the guild to pay $90,000, up from $70,000 last year, but ride operators said this fee was too high given the number of people coming to the show.
Association vice-president Daniel Wallace issued a media release on Thursday afternoon saying the show would attempt to break the deadlock by cutting the fee offer to $85,000.
But Guild boss George Pink told the Newcastle Herald that he had not heard from the show organisers and the new offer was "nowhere near" what the ride operators were willing to pay.
Mr Wallace said the show and the guild had reached a handshake deal last year which set a 2019 fee of $70,000, rising to $90,000 this year if the show increased its crowd numbers.
He said the 2019 show had attracted a "record" crowd, but the guild had refused to sign a new agreement unless the fee remained at $70,000.
"We are aware of the difficult times faced by amusement ride operators throughout the country, and it isn't dissimilar to the challenges faced by regional show committees," he said.
"Last year we gave due consideration to the need to increase crowd levels at the 2019 show to be in a position to increase the fee in 2020, and we are very pleased to have been successful in doing that."
Show organisers said after last year's event that gate takings had risen by 42 per cent.
"We have honoured our commitment so far to increase crowd numbers by providing a wide variety of free entertainment within the entry price which, as per our strategic plan, has remained unchanged at 2019 levels to free up cash for use within the showgrounds in which amusement ride operators would be the big beneficiaries," Mr Wallace said on Thursday.
"Today we have extended an olive branch to them with a reduced offer of $80,000.00 (inc GST) and an additional $5000 (inc GST) payment which equates to a 50/50 split in recognition of the discount applied to the 2019 fee."
Show organisers say they have explored back-up plans if the carnival ride operators pull out of this year's show, which is from March 6 to 8.
