Officers recommend maintained funding

Gosford Council officers have recommended that council maintain its current $5000 sponsorship of the Brisbane Water Oyster Festival.

The Oyster Festival committee had offered the naming rights to council, for an extra $10,000, following the departure of its previous naming rights sponsor.

Council officers have recommended that council continue to sponsor the festival at its current sponsorship level "both financially and in-kind".

Council's support in past years has been $5000 plus in-kind contributions including photocopying of the festival program, managing road closure and barrier boards, signage, rubbish removal, providing stages, electrical assistance and the use of council's PA system.

The request for the naming rights of the festival would increase council's financial contribution by an additional $10,000, giving a total sponsorship of $15,000 plus $2000 in-kind support.

Council's agenda stated that if the current sponsorship level of $5000 was lifted to naming rights, there would be an impact on the current budget of $10,000.

The council had already allocated $5000 in the budget for this year's festival.

A meeting was held in May with the chair of Brisbane Water Oyster Festival Ms Debra Wales and a number of council representatives to discuss funding for the festival at the level of naming rights for the event.

Ms Wales was requested to provide a business plan for this year's festival.

In a letter to council's general manager Mr Peter Wilson, Ms Wales said that with sponsorship "very tight" in the current market the increase funding from council "would ensure that the festival was held at its highest quality" and remained an "iconic attraction" for the Peninsula.

The Brisbane Water Oyster Festival and Blessing of the Fleet was established in 2000 by the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce to showcase the Peninsula, local oyster farming and the Professional Fisherman's Association.

According to council's agenda, the festival has grown over the eight years and now has "broad community support, a strong connection to the community and attracts people to the area".

The festival is also supportive of the Cancer Council of NSW, with $127,060 raised over the last three years.

Council agenda COM.22, 24 Jun 2008