The 2016 Sunshine Coast event was estimated to have generated an economic impact of $19.54 million for the local economy. This year’s event is expected to deliver an economic impact of about $17 million despite the challenges of the pandemic. Plans to try and host the event every three years were being forged back in 2018 when council staff began discussions with Tourism and Events Queensland. Lana Rogers wins the ironwoman race in 2018 at The Aussies. Picture: SLSA Council officers outlined the intention of those discussions in their presentation to be made to councillors at next Thursday’s meeting. Reducing cash and in-kind support required to secure the event, preventing a future “bidding competition” between Queensland-based regions to host and further advancing the council’s “growing partnership” with Tourism and Events Queensland were listed as intentions of the discussions.