Scone Horse Festival Committee president David Gatwood said while it was disappointing that Scone won’t have a rodeo as part of the festival this year, the committee was doing what they could to fill the void.

See related story: Scone Charity Rodeo called off in 2018 due to ongoing development of White Park

“The committee, as recently as last week, came together once the news had broken to start thinking about what we should do to replace that,” he said.

“The last thing we want is for nothing to happen in Scone on that Saturday night because it is a major drawcard not only for the locals but also to bring people into Scone and the Upper Hunter.

“So we’ve discussed a couple of options.

“I’m talking to a number of the local businesses, more importantly the hotels about putting on a family-friendly evening on that Saturday night.

“The rough plan at the moment is we still want to stage something at White Park and we are working through the mechanics of that.

“Then we are hoping that the hotels will open their doors that evening and put on some sort of function.”

Mr Gatwood said while the rodeo won’t run, the other events on the first Saturday in May will continue at White Park –  including farrier displays, the Australian Tentpegging Championships, thoroughbred horse demonstrations, sheep dog trials and Australian Stock Horse demonstrations.

The 2018 two-day Inglis Scone Yearling Sale is also still on schedule for May 13 and 14. 

Council's manager special projects Alan Fletcher admitted the main issue was a financial one, with Stage 1 of the White Park development near completion but funds still being sought for Stage 2. 

“This area has the space available to hold a one-off rodeo,” he said.

“It will take some extra work and we offered to help the rodeo with that, but it wouldn’t be as perfect as having it in the brand new arena.

“The rodeo considered all the options and the risks – and they made the decision not to proceed.

“We’ve got funding for what is called Stage 1 – the earthworks, the roof structure and some of the fit out, that’s $1.96 million.

“That was never enough to do everything and we all knew that.

“It’s been an ongoing issue but we are trying to raise more funds through grants and other means, trying to wiggle the price down and look at other alternatives.

“We have and are actively looking for more to get it all finished – Stages 1 and 2.”