​Major Event Funding Approvals

Brian Stockwell100:07

Anyone else wish to talk to the motion? Are you happy not to close Councillor Wilkie? I'll put the motion those in favour. That's unanimous. And we move then to item 5 which is a major event funding proposals and while the relevant staff come to the table just to remind the Council that the attachment to this report is confidential. If we wish to discuss matters relating to that we will need to go into closed session.

Thank you, Councillors, Through the Chair. This report presents the recommended Major Event Sponsorship Funding allocations for events to be delivered during the 2026-27 financial year as the event portfolio transitions from tourism. Noosa to Council. From the 1st of July this year, 2026, Noosa Council will assume responsibility for funding major tourism events following extensive community consultation through the Destination Management Plan process and subsequent engagement. With event rights holders. This transition represents a significant shift towards a community-led, values-aligned approach to events in Noosa. The DMP feedback highlighted a strong for Council to provide clearer oversight of events, ensure better alignment with community outcomes, sorry, community expectations, reduce negative impacts and strengthen sustainability and accessibility outcomes. Transitioning event funding to Council supports this direction by enabling improved governance, strategic alignment and consistent decision making across the organisation. It is also a direction supported by the events industry. A 12-month transition period is required to allow existing contractual obligations by Tourism Noosa to conclude. This period also provides Council with the necessary time to establish the internal processes, assessment tools, relationship structures policy framework to effectively manage major event investment as a component of the Noosa Council Sustainable Events Strategy which is currently under development and will direct future from funding decisions. July 2026 onwards it is anticipated that funding decisions will prioritise events that deliver tangible community benefits, demonstrate strong environmental responsibility, enhance accessibility and minimise impacts on residents and contribute to a more balanced distribution of activity across the Shire. Still while still recognising the importance of economic and visitation outcomes. The events have long played an important role in noosa's culture, economy and community. In response to community feedback received during the development of the DMP, Council is creating a new Sustainable Events Strategy and accompanying guidelines. These documents will shape noosa's future events portfolio including tourism, community and arts and culture events, ensuring alignment with the principles and objectives of the DMP. The strategy will also guide future event funding and sponsorship, provide clarity certainty and for event organisers and be directly informed by community feedback gathered throughout and I would ask recommendations. And also an amendment to recommendation A. As the report was delayed, we didn't take it to the S &E, Services & Organisation Committee, it came straight to general. So we ask that Council approve the Major Event Sponsorship Funding for a transition year being 2026 to 2027 as outlined in confidential attachment one. Major event funding recommendations. Confidential IAW with S254D3 of LG Reg 2012. Subject to sufficient funds totalling 230,000 being allocated in the adopted 2026-27 Council budget. And note that the new Sustainable Events Strategy policy and assessment criteria under development and will guide future processes.

Amelia Lorentson111:44

So in terms of the 230,000 that was transferred from Tourism Noosa, and my understanding that was the cost that was calculated or Council taken on its major event funding. How was that amount ascertained? How did you guys work out that cost?

Thank you, Ms. Woloski. Through the Chair, absolutely, yes. What we will be doing going forward until we get an endorsement adopted strategy to really set the plan for that, which will negate what we call double-dipping. What we have is we're taking into consideration that some events within the existing portfolio got major event funding and some of them got signature community funding, and so what we did is we tried to move. Take out a portion of the major event funding and slowly what we might call a drip feed or slowly reduce the reliance on the double funding pool. And so some of that funding we were able to allocate into other events that we thought were meeting all the DMP criteria. Get so they could a little bit more of their funding. And we tried to slightly reduce some of the allocation of those events that are getting funded from two sources within Council, noting that once we get an adopted strategy and with more communication and as well as collaboration with those events, we reduce will that completely, the double funding.

Frank Wilkie122:53

Yeah, look, I support the change to the major event funding. As said, this is a significant change from having Tourism Noosa assess funding for these events, the intention in bringing these events back into councils. Is to streamline the assessment process. As mentioned, some are already also receiving signature event grants, alliance grants, and there will be more work done after this year, which is a holding pattern for these events, more work done with all Councillors and stakeholders to come up with policy sustainable events strategies. Strategy policy assessment criteria, which will be a new way forward. I commend the staff for the work we've done in managing this change. I support the recommendations.