funding · Ipswich City Council
Ipswich backs reduced sponsorship for Winternationals and caravan expo
Ipswich City Council has approved smaller cash grants for the 2026 Gulf Western Oil Winternationals and the Let’s Go Ipswich Caravan & RV Expo, while also funding event impact reports.
Ipswich City Council’s Economic and Cultural Development Committee has backed reduced sponsorship for two 2026 events at Willowbank and in Ipswich, approving $25,000 for the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals and $4,500 for the Let’s Go Ipswich Caravan & RV Expo. Both grants were lower than the amounts sought, and both events will also receive council-funded event impact reports as in-kind support.
Willowbank Raceway Incorporated had asked for $35,000 for the Winternationals, scheduled for Thursday 4 June to Sunday 7 June 2026. Councillors approved $25,000 excluding GST and an Event Impact Report valued at $10,997.50 excluding GST.
The caravan expo was treated the same way. Caravan Trade & Industries Association of Queensland, trading as Caravaning Queensland, sought $15,000 for the Let’s Go Ipswich Caravan & RV Expo, due to run from 28 to 30 August 2026. The committee approved $4,500 excluding GST and an Event Impact Report valued at $9,500 excluding GST.
The meeting also noted a quarterly event sponsorship and ticket allocation report for 1 January to 31 March 2026. It listed $50,000 for the 2026 Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440, $50,000 for Spartan AUS 3.0 Pty Ltd for the 2026 OCR World Championships and Spartan Trifecta Weekend and the 2027 and 2028 Spartan Trifecta Weekends, and $25,000 for the 2026 Ipswich Cup.
The same report recorded 35 hospitality tickets for the 2026 CMC Rocks event, described as being for advocacy and capacity building purposes. It also confirmed event impact study support for the 2026 Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440 at Queensland Raceway, Friday 21 to Sunday 23 August.
The committee then received and noted the April 2026 Nicholas Street Precinct redevelopment progress report. The report covered leasing, planning, delivery and ongoing management matters for the CBD precinct. Its attachments were confidential under section 254J(3)(g) of the Local Government Regulation 2012.
The meeting began at 10.30am and closed at 10.53am.
Reference minutes
Ipswich City Council Economic and Cultural Development Committee meeting, 19 May 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Willowbank Raceway Incorporated was approved $25,000 excl. GST for the 2026 Gulf Western Oil Winternationals.
- Council also approved an Event Impact Report for the Winternationals valued at $10,997.50 ex GST.
- Caravan Trade & Industries Association of Queensland was approved $4,500 excl. GST for the Let’s Go Ipswich Caravan & RV Expo.
- Council also approved an Event Impact Report for the caravan expo valued at $9,500 ex GST.
- The quarterly report noted $50,000 for the 2026 Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440.
- The quarterly report noted 35 hospitality tickets for the 2026 CMC Rocks event.
- The Nicholas Street Precinct April 2026 redevelopment progress report was received and noted.
Why it matters
- The committee has kept supporting major events to drive visitation and spending, but it has done so with smaller cash grants than applicants asked for. Residents can also see how council is tracking event sponsorships, hospitality tickets and CBD redevelopment work.