The Barkly Regional Council and the NT Government have reportedly come up with a plan to ensure that this year’s Tennant Creek Show occurs in a scaled-down event held July 13 -14.

Barkly Mayor Jeff McLaughlin said the government, together with the community have banded together to iron out financial issues and are considering alternative sites for the event.

“I got a phone call from Chief Minister Natasha Fyles, and she just said: ‘Whatever you need, just do it, Jeff,'” Mr McLaughlin told ABC Radio.

“Those sorts of calls are what we need in this community – to have our government come in and help out because there’s no other way of pulling it off.”

Mr McLaughlin said the government had committed $10,000 to address infrastructure issues, while local tradies have volunteered to help.

While this year’s show will be scaled down, Mr McLaughlin said he hopes that all traditional attractions, including the sideshow alley, will still proceed at this year’s show.

The mayor has also asked the NT Major Events Company for additional support.

“What I’ve looked at was the bare minimum, but now I’m looking at pulling off a full show — with the pavilions. A lot of it is all set and forget, so it’s like if you build it they will come,” he said.

“There’s a lot of corporate knowledge within the former committee members … mostly all of them don’t want to come to be honest — they’re just completely burnt [out].”

The Tennant & Districts Show Society Committee earlier this week announced the cancellation of this year’s show citing rising costs, ageing infrastructure, and volunteer burnout.

Barkly MLA Steve Edgington said the cancellation was the result of the NT Government “sitting on their hands.”

“The upgrade of the Showgrounds has been an issue for several years. There’s been an under-investment by the Northern Territory government when it comes to infrastructure in Tennant Creek,” Mr Edgington said.

“My understanding is the cost of the current water bill to service the show, the rodeo grounds, The Turf Club, and the other facility is clearly over $100,000. We also know that some of the electrical infrastructure needs to be upgraded as well,” he said.

The Tennant Creek Show, first held in 1980, celebrates the agricultural delights in one of the most remote areas of Australia that have drawn hundreds of visitors.