SafeWork orders force last-minute overhaul of Maitland Show motorsport events

newy.com.au – SafeWork NSW issued prohibition orders on the Maitland Show’s Demolition Derby and V8 Utes Ultimate Holden vs Ford Showdown at Maitland Showground on Thursday 12 February 2026, prompting a late-night safety overhaul led by Maitland City Council.

The last-minute action came after a demolition derby crash at a Walcha car rally in November, in which a driver suffered a medical episode and hit a barrier before the vehicle entered a grandstand and injured 13 people.

Nine inspectors attended the showground on 12 February and determined the two motorsport attractions posed an unacceptable risk to public safety, despite organisers saying they had been staged safely for decades.

Council workers moved 300 crash-rated water-filled barriers into the centre ring between 10.30pm on Friday 13 February and 5.30am on Saturday 14 February, then filled them with about 100,000 litres of bore water to create a 60-metre arena. The work was timed to avoid disrupting horse events scheduled to begin early on 14 February.

Maitland Show manager Brett Gleeson said the timing of the inspection placed “unprecedented pressure” on organisers. “We received communication from SafeWork NSW on Friday, February 6, that they would meet with us on Tuesday, February 10,” he said.

“Working with us 6 months before the show when we are planning our major attractions would have been a far more constructive approach,” Gleeson said. “We all want a safe event but the last minute approach created unnecessary stress for an event that operates for 30 hours over 3 days with 24 competitions, rides, amusements and commercial exhibitors.”

SafeWork NSW approved the council’s arena on Saturday afternoon, just hours before the attractions were due to run, allowing them to proceed in a scaled-back format. The Hunter River Agricultural and Horticultural Association, which runs the Maitland Show, said the barrier solution cost $15,000, while council provided a significant in-kind contribution.

The inspectors also issued a prohibition order for the show’s grand parade on 14 February about 1.5 hours before it was due to begin, stopping classic vehicles, community floats and other show vehicles from taking part, despite organisers saying they would have been driven at 5km/h around the centre ring.

Restrictions imposed by SafeWork NSW also affected viewing positions around the ring and in the grandstand and prevented sponsors from riding in the passenger seat during the V8 Ute performances. Gleeson said staff worked to explain changes and arrange alternatives, but described the impact on sponsors as “extremely disappointing”.

Trackskills V8 Utes owner Gary Baxter was forced to manoeuvre vehicles around witches’ hats in the reduced space, and raised concerns to inspectors about running two vehicles in a tighter circle than a full centre-ring layout.

Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison and the NSW Agricultural Societies Council have written to NSW Work Health and Safety Minister Sophie Cotsis calling for a review of SafeWork NSW’s approach to agricultural shows.