More support for fireworks

The Peninsula Fireworks and Carnival will receive twice the support from Gosford Council this year.

The council has doubled its allocation for the annual event to $10,000.

The Rotary Club of Umina Beach had asked for $15,000 to cover the increasing cost of public liability insurance.

The club suggested the council could have "naming rights" for the event with total sponsor for $25,000 plus in-kind support support.

This would include cover under council's public liability policy at no cost to Rotary.

The club also offered co-sponsorship of the event with "shared naming rights" for $15,000.

The council's manager of insurance and risk, Mr Allen Collison, told the council that event organisers had to be responsible for their own liability.

As the event was not a council event, it could not come under Council's insurance policy.

A staff report to the council also stated that, under council's sponsorship policy, funds provided by Council must not lead to an organisation or group becoming dependent on Council for ongoing financial support.

The Rotary Club should be encouraged to seek further corporate sponsorship and other forms of fund raising for future years, the report stated.

The report noted that the event had been a successful family and community event.

It provided a family-oriented and alcohol-free community event and raised funds for youth on the Peninsula and the Salvation Army in Umina.

The club estimated that between 12,000 and 15,000 people attended the event which was the only New Year's Eve Fireworks display to take place in the area.

Council agenda CD.023, September 7