Council doubles festival support

Gosford Council has resolved to increase its sponsorship for this year's Brisbane Water Oyster Festival to $10,000 plus in-kind support.

The increase doubles the council's previous contribution but falls short of organisers' requests for $15,000.

Council officers had recommended that council maintain its $5000 sponsorship plus in-kind support of $2000, provided for last year's festival.

The increase in council's sponsorship follows the request of the Brisbane Water Oyster Festival committee to make council the new naming rights sponsor for this year's festival.

The committee offered naming rights to council for $15,000, following the departure of its previous naming rights sponsor, the Ettalong Beach Club.

Festival committee chair Ms Debra Wales said the club was unable to continue its sponsorship due to its current financial difficulty.

"We are extremely pleased with council's decision to increase its one-off sponsorship to $10,000," Ms Wales said.

"It would have been nice to have them as a naming rights sponsor but the increase will be a big help to us."

Cr Trevor Drake said: "We understand the importance of a community and primary industry event such as the Brisbane Water Oyster Festival.

"That is why council needs to ensure it continues and encourage its future existence on the Peninsula."

Ms Wales said the oyster festival committee would continue its search to find a major naming rights sponsor.

"We still have some time.

"If we are unsuccessful this year, the festival will still go ahead, just on a much smaller scale to past years."

Ms Wales said the festival committee worked to a budget of $60,000 last year.

"The Brisbane Water Oyster Festival is not only an important community event, but it also showcases one of the Coast's primary industries- oyster farming," Ms Wales said.

At council's meeting on July 1, it was also resolved that council staff prepare report on policies where council contributes to festivals and other community events.

Cr Vicki Scott said a policy addressing the issue of council's contributions to festivals and other community events would ensure a fair allocation of council support.

Council agenda COM.22, 1 Jul 2008