Tamborine Mountain’s Bushrats rugby league club were left out in the cold after Tamborine Mountain AH&I Society refused to allow the club to train on the grounds.
The dispute follows the expiration of the Bushrats’ lease last year and their decision to move to Tamborine Mountain Sports Association in 2027.
Bushrats President, Maxine Milner, said the show society cited insurance concerns as the reason why they are no longer able to train at the showgrounds, however players and supporters are covered under the Bushrats’ $20 million public liability insurance.
The AH&I Society disputed this claim in a media statement from President Vanessa Bull released today.
“Tamborine Mountain AH&I Society is committed to supporting community sport and has always welcomed the participation of the Bushrats Junior Rugby League Club’s use of our grounds,” the statement said.
“Without a formal licence in place, the Tamborine Mountain AH&I Society is unacceptably exposed to public liability risks and associated responsibilities.
“As a result and with regret, we have had to revoke access to our grounds by the Bushrats until the necessary documentation is completed.”
Ms Milner said an interim agreement was drawn up and signed by both organisations in February 2026, which would expire once a new licence to occupy was signed.
The new licence, which was sent to the Bushrats in May 2026, has been the subject of dispute, with the club unhappy with several clauses, including liquor licencing, number of people allowed on the grounds for Bushrats’ events and dress and behaviour standards for those attending.
“It says we need to let them know in advance if we have more than 300 people, but we often don’t know until game day how many people attend.
“It would be an estimate on the day – we don’t have the volunteers to count everyone who comes onto the grounds,” Ms Milner said.
In her statement Ms Bull said the society was promised that the licence would be signed and returned some weeks ago, but this had not happened.
The society allowed the Bushrats to play their last games on the grounds on Saturday July 18, but children were locked out of the grounds and training was moved to Geissman oval at short notice.
“We want to emphasise that this decision is not a reflection of our commitment to community sport or to the players and families involved,” Ms Bull stated.
Solution found
Former Bushrats president, Alick Kilsby, now the president of Tamborine Mountain Sports Association (TMSA), worked with Ms Milner to see if Queensland Rugby League would allow play at TMSA, a ground that had not been used for rugby league for many years.
“QRL were pretty good but we had to do a lot of work to show that the grounds are suitable,” Mr Kilsby said.
He contacted the soccer and cricket clubs based at TMSA, who both made concessions to ensure the Bushrats could play out their season.
Tamborine Mountain Cricket Club gave the Bushrats permission to store training equipment in their change rooms and the soccer club has adjusted games and training schedules to accommodate the rugby league club.
“It is off season for cricket now so it is no problem,” Cricket club president Cole Fletcher said.
Ms Milner said she was grateful to TMSA and their associated clubs.
“We are just super appreciative to TMSA and those clubs, because without those we would have no games or training going ahead.”
“Thanks also to Alick for communicating with soccer and cricket.”
“We are very grateful to the soccer club for allowing us to play our games and train on the grounds, even though they still have games and training.”
Following the Bushrats games at Tamborine Mountain Showgrounds on July 18, members removed their training gear and scoreboard from the showgrounds and transported them to TMSA.
At the time of print, they were in the process of installing goal posts to be able to play out the remaining games on July 27 and August 8.
The final games of the season will be played at TMSA on August 8, with junior games in the morning and the men’s game commencing at 3pm.
Spectators are welcome to attend.
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