Not everyone is happy about the North Coast Outdoor Leisure Show moving to a new home at Bangalow Showgrounds in July this year.

The leisure show is the one of the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service’s main fundraising events and has been held at Lismore Showgrounds for many years.

The move to Bangalow has disappointed some Lismore business owners who have been exhibiting at the Lismore-based event for a number of years.

Nissan Lismore owner, Paul O’Neill, said his business but won’t be going to the show at Bangalow this year.

“We have been exhibiting at it for many years and it’s always been a Lismore fundraiser,” Paul said. “But Bangalow is not in the primary network area where we sell cars, so we won’t be going.

“Lismore is supportive of the event and it would be good for it to stay. We usually take 20 cars and it costs a lot of money to take 20 cars to Bangalow.

“Going to Bangalow won’t get more people through the gate, just less exhibitors.  

“The event just needs better promotion to get as many people through the gate as possible.”

Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service spokesperson Zeke Huish said the local show had seen some challenges and changes over the years, along with other Australian regional leisure shows.

“We didn’t make decision to move the event to Bangalow lightly,” he said.

“We are conscious of being a regional service with our roots in Lismore, but the environment has changed for people and business.

“The size of the show used to attract over 200 exhibitors and filled the Lismore Showground, but in the last five years, online shopping and the drought has impacted on people exhibiting at the show.

“So, we looked for a venue that better suits the size of the show. This year, we are aiming for over 100 exhibitors and if we get to 150 that would be fantastic. 

“The compact layout of Bangalow Showground show can help deliver a vibrant show. 

“The feedback we also got is that local exhibitors find it hard to keep their shops open on the weekend, because they also need to bring stock and staff to display. 

“With the new highway upgrade, we thought we would try to position the show in the long term closer to the coastal population base, but keep it in the Northern Rivers area. 

“The show attracts audiences from across Australia to exhibit products here and some of them travel a long way to bring the gear.”

The North Coast National Secretary Mark Bailey said the Lismore Showground committee regrets the decision of the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service to move the Outdoor Leisure Show to the Bangalow Showground. 

Upcoming Rescue Helicopter Service fundraiser events

While the Outdoor Leisure Show won’t take place until July, Zeke said there are a number of other charity events for the helicopter service taking place before that to raise funds for the helicopter service. 

This week, a Leader's Leap will be happening in Tweed Heads, where two Lismore local sportsmen will abseil from a ten storey building.

Read more: It's football vs rugby as locals leap off a building

Then the first of the Rescue Helicopter’s Coastal Charity Walk events take place in March. 

Since 2012 over 11,861 people have taken part in one or more of Coastal Charity Walks. Their combined steps have seen 317,145kms walked in total.

This year the Lismore based Helicopter Service invites everyone to register and take part as they look to surpass 384,400kms...the same distance from Earth to the Moon.

They have three walks taking place on beaches in: Kingscliff (March 14), Byron Bay (May 30) and the Coffs Coast (June 6) beaches.

You can visit http://www.coastalcharitywalk.com.au to register and help them save lives and complete their virtual lunar voyage.