A new funding program will encourage organisers of sport and community events to help showcase Eurobodalla as a year-round cultural and leisure destination.
The grant program is just one of many to-do items listed in the draft Eurobodalla Event Strategy 2019-2023, endorsed for public display by Councillors at the Tuesday 11 June Council Meeting.
Shire Mayor Liz Innes said the five-year blueprint will drive a year-round calendar of events, in a move designed to boost the shire’s economy and jobs.
In endorsing the Strategy for public display Council have offered that by building an events calendar around two hallmark events and four or five destination events, supported by sports and community events, they’re encouraging visitors to both stay longer and holiday right through the year.
Tourism is vital to the shire’s economy and it is well known that many people visit the shire to attend a particular event. Now Council is working on how to encourage them to stay longer by developing a community hub portal on their website to assist event organisers including elements such as event planning guidelines, marketing plan templates, compliance fact sheets, and event-evaluation tools.
With a transparent assessment process in place to get events funded Council now encourages the community to have their say on the strategy.
The action plan is to develop a list of specific short, medium and long-term activities, increase the number of visitors and encourage off-peak visitation whilst attracting funding and investment in event infrastructure and facilities.
An example, with the South Coast proximity to both Canberra and Sydney is Willinga Park that tempts National and International with its quality infrastructure in a stunning location. Council are looking to run a first round of grant funding by September this year.
The draft Eurobodalla Event Strategy 2019-2023 is on public exhibition until Wednesday 17 July. To find out more, view the strategy, or make a submission, visit www.esc.nsw.gov.au/publicexhibition Hardcopies are also available to view at Council’s Customer Service Centre in Moruya and the Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma libraries.
