A new program to support and encourage major events to come to Dubbo is expected to generate high economic benefits for the city.
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Developed by Western Plains Regional Council’s city development and communications branch, the program will be based on a sponsorship model to provide in-kind services to high yield events, city promotions and events supervisor Lana Willetts said.
“Last financial year the organisation contributed $200,000 in in-kind assistance to events that were deemed to be economic drivers to the city,” she said.
“That funding came from all different budgets, so it’s proposed that a fund be established to streamline processes and make it a lot more transparent, but also to provide some sponsorship framework to those events.”
Council gave $52,820 in in-kind support for the Koori Knockout last year, and in return the championship injected $5.26 million into the city. In 2014 $98,000 was spent to support the Country v City match, which gave the economy a $254,000 boost.
There has also been $50,000 of in-kind support, plus the same amount in cash given to Artlands 2016, with an expected economic value of $360,000 for the city.
There will be $20,000 allocated during the financial year for sponsorship under $2,000; $80,000 for the calendar year for applications between $2,001 and $10,000; and $100,000 that can be allocated based on strategic event attraction outcomes.
Both Parkes and Deniliquin, they've done studies to see how much their festivals bring in and it's millions of dollars so the more we can get those sort of events into the Western Plains Regional Council the better.
- Michael Kneipp
If council’s bid to host the 2017 City v Country match is successful, about $90,000 will be given in in-kind support.
Council administrator Michael Kneipp said it was worthwhile for council to encourage cultural, sporting and social events.
“Both Parkes and Deniliquin, they’ve done studies to see how much their festivals bring in and it’s millions of dollars so the more we can get those sort of events into the Western Plains Regional Council the better,” he said.
Mr Kneipp approved the establishment of a major events sponsor program at the July ordinary meeting of council.