Organisers are confident of attracting more than 600 athletes to the first event and would expect it to grow from there.

Council resolved, at their budget meeting, to commit to a partnership with Elite Events for up to three years. 

Council will work out the details of a partnership worth up to $15,000 a year in cash and in-kind contributions.

Mayor Phyllis Miller, who was one of the organisers of fundraiser triathlons in Forbes in the 1980s, is thrilled to see the event take off in town again.

“I am really excited to have this opportunity, and it was unanimously supported by councillors,” Mayor Miller said.

Forbes would become one of a six-race series, including the flagship Huskisson Triathlon Festival. Other events attract 2,500-5,500 athletes providing a massive boost to the economies of the host centres.

Nick Turner, co-organiser of triathlons the past two years, said they had started to receive enquiries about the Forbes event from further afield before they were approached by Elite Events.

The company CEO Mark Emerton had participated in triathlons in Forbes in the 1980s and believed the track would be a drawcard.

“He knew where we ran all our events and said it was one of the triathlons he really enjoyed,” Mr Turner said.

“All the pieces of the puzzle fit together.

“We have an open water swim with proximity to town, the bikes are on a nice quiet road and the run comes through town to the lake.

“The course is flat and people love to race fast. They love to stop the clock and have a personal best.”

Elite Energy proposed a two-day event in Forbes, with shorter courses and children’s events on Saturday March 25.

Sunday will see two events for serious athletes – the Olympic distance, which Forbes launched this year, and an ‘ultimate’ distance which has a 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride and 21km run. The Elite Energy races make up a season long series.