Plans have been made by the society to hold the Royal Launceston Show on one day, Thursday, October 11, this year at Inveresk.

However, Launceston acting mayor Rob Soward said the council had not received any information about the proposed one-day event.

The show society has a long-term lease with the council.

“The land at Inveresk used by the show society is still available,” he said.

However, show society president Jock Gibson said he was surprised by Cr Soward’s comments and believed the council were aware of plans to hold the show on its land at Inveresk.

“The council are aware of our plans,” he said.

Mr Gibson said the 2018 show was cancelled in December, shortly after the council voted not to financially support the event.

Mr Soward said large debts owing to the council from the show society meant it was not reasonable for ratepayers to continue to support a “a failed business model”. 

Debts owed to the council are believed to be more than $100,000, however Mr Soward said the society’s financial troubles were not confined to dealings with the council.

“It's really up to the society to show whether they're financially capable of running a one-day event and that determination needs to be made with all their creditors,” he said.

The National Trust announced on Thursday it had launched a conservation appeal to raise $80,000 in an attempt to “save” the show.

Mr Gibson said none of the money raised would go to the society’s creditors. 

“All the money raised from the trust will go toward this year’s show,” he said.

“We will need some urgent money to make sure we can get things sorted from the start.”

The attempt to raise $80,000 is parallel to the National Trust’s appeal to have the show recognised as a heritage risk for the important part it played in Launceston’s history. 

National Trust managing director Matthew Smithies said the event was an important part of Tasmania’s heritage and culture.