The Vincent Community Board's promotions budget is $45,000 lighter after two separate grants were approved this week.
The board agreed to retrospectively fund two Promote Alexandra projects worth $19,000 and also to give $26,000 to the Alexandra Blossom Festival committee to cover event management fees for this year's festival.
Central Otago District Council community development manager Mathew Begg said the board had already agreed to "tag" $11,000 for the promotions group's "Alexandra Online" project, which involved a weather station and web camera.
The group sought $14,000 for that project and a further $5000 to reprint its Alexandra brochure.
Promote Alexandra president Shaun McLellan said the webcam was on Alexandra's clock on the hill and the website received 800 hits a day.
"We're trying to develop it into a more interactive site and it will include a directory of businesses," he said.
Businesses would pay to have a link with the website and the aim was to make the site self-funding.
Board member Tony Lepper said the board usually had a policy of declining retrospective grant applications.
"What happens if we keep putting the cart before the horse?" board member Tim Cadogan asked.
Mr McLellan said the board needed to have flexibility so the promotions group could support projects in the community.
"Promote Alexandra appears to have become a quasi-funding arm for the community board and I don't think that's what was intended," board member Martin McPherson said.
The board needed to let the public know that its promotions funding was now contestable.
"My understanding is that any organisation in this community, or individual, can apply to the board [for promotions funding]; I don't think there's a huge awareness of that out there," Mr McPherson said.
Blossom Festival chairman Steve Battrick said Christchurch firm Innerwink Management Ltd would manage the festival, which begins at the end of September.
"We had 15 applicants for the job and were delighted with the calibre of the applicants," Mr Battrick said.
