ORGANISERS of Mount Gambier’s New Years Eve Festival have sought an increase of funding from City Council to help run the event in 2019.
Mount Gambier Community Events Management chair Bert Bacher and former head Steve Toope fronted council’s operational standing committee on Tuesday night to discuss funding models for the annual festival.
Last year, councillors voted to decrease its $10,000 cash contribution and $5000 of in-kind support for the event to $5000 cash and $3000 in-kind conditional on other funding support.
Mr Toope urged council to revert to its original funding scheme for at least three years to secure the longevity of the event.
He said the event provided attendees with family-friendly entertainment in the heart of the city who may otherwise not be celebrating.
“I think we are getting to the point where it is one of the events that is expected,” Mr Toope said.
“It is starting to build a bit of momentum and a bit of popularity, so we are really trying to sustain that.
“Quite a few people have said to me if this was not on, they might have a couple of beers and then pull the pin at 10pm.”
Mr Toope said since the inaugural event in 2010, the Vansittart Park festivities provided attendees with family friendly entertainment to usher in the new year.
He estimated around 5500 people attend the festival each year.
“There are a lot of people that use the event as a family catch up,” he said.
“You see plenty of picnic blankets around and plenty of families are there.
“It is everyone from a bub to an 80-year-old.
“The last couple of years, we have been drawing more tourists from caravan parks and motels and we have had some busses turn up.
Mr Toope said there was limited scope to increase the entry price beyond its current rate, saying affordability was one of the committee’s key goals.
“We have kept the prices down as much as we possibly can,” he said.
“Currently they sit at about $35 for a family up to four kids, adults are $15 and pensioners are $10.
“We are getting to the limit of what we can charge.”
In response to questions around additional funding streams, Mr Toope said the committee had secured $7000 for last year’s event after writing to almost 100 organisations.
Securing larger sponsorship packages was flagged as a priority by the committee.
Mr Toope praised the contribution of all members, but acknowledged more work needed to be done in order to continue the event into the future.
Although no formal recommendation was passed, committee members were united in their support for the event.
