Bassett Park – Member’s Bar & Betting Ring Update

Published on 27 March 2026

Maranoa Regional Council would like to keep the community informed of recent works undertaken at Bassett Park ahead of this weekend’s Picnic Races.

 Earlier this week, during routine works in the Member’s Bar and Betting Ring area, a structural crack was identified in one of the concrete support columns.

Council promptly engaged structural engineers and specialist contractors to assess the situation. As a precautionary measure, a temporary structural prop along with additional bracing has been installed. These measures are localised to the area immediately around the column and are what is required at this stage to ensure the facility remains safe and operational.

 Deputy Mayor and Portfolio Chair for Facilities, Cr Cameron O’Neil, said Council had acted quickly to address the issue ahead of this weekend’s event.

"The safety of our community is always our highest priority. Once this issue was identified, our staff and contractors worked quickly to implement precautionary measures so the facility can continue to be safely used and this weekend’s event can proceed with minimal disruption," Cr O’Neil said.

 He said Council was committed to keeping the community informed.

"We are committed to keeping our community informed about matters like this. While the damage has been identified, the important thing is that the right steps have been taken to ensure the area remains safe while we work through a longer-term solution," he said.

 Council will continue working with engineers to understand the cause of the damage and develop a long-term rectification plan. The temporary propping and bracing will remain in place while these investigations and any required works are carried out.

Council appreciates the Committee’s patience and the community’s understanding, and looks forward to a successful Picnic Races at Bassett Park this weekend.