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Gore District councillors will consider footing the bill for the Bayley’s Tussock Country Music Festival marketing co-ordinator’s position for three more years.
The topic is on the agenda for tomorrow’s council meeting.
In 2021, as one of the stakeholders of the music festival, the council agreed to fund the position at $50,000 a year for three years and Annabel Roy was appointed.
A report, which will be tabled at the meeting by council’s event co-ordinator Jessica Swan, included a letter from music festival trust chairman Jeff Rea.
In it, Mr Rea said under the original agreement the council agreed to cover the cost of the 20 hour-a-week position in the understanding the trust could ask to have the term extended.
Due to the cancellation of the 2022 festival, the trust was "unable to operate in a financially sustainable model at this time".
"An extension of funding would continue to support the [festival] until the trust is in a sustainable financial position that can independently pay staffing costs for the marketing co-ordinator."
The trust proposed that while the council continued to fund the position, the amount would decrease each year.
"We are requesting 100% in year 1 ($52,000), 75% in year 2 ($39,000), and 50% in year 3 ($26,000)."
The festival brought socio-economic benefits to the district.
"The quality and vibrancy of this highly anticipated event attracts domestic and international visitor spending directly into the pockets of our local community.
"The festival is an annual drawcard, and an asset to our community and its residents."
In her report, Ms Swan said the council had been a long-time financial supporter of country music events, dating back to before the festival was established.
The council also organised and delivered another cornerstone event of the festival, Freeze Ya Bits Off Busking, which would also need more council funding if the event was to grow.
"Over the next three years, the budget may need to increase by an additional 50% to provide better prizes to entice new buskers, improve marketing and build on the overall event."