Mid-Western Regional Council voted to pay Mudgee Region Tourism's (MRT) full contract for next financial year upfront, and to roll forward assistance funding for rescheduled events, as the industry comes to grips with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
MRT's Quarterly Report (October-December 2019) was received by Council at its April meeting.
Cr Russell Holden moved to provide MRT the full contracted amount for 2020/21 on July 1, 2020. Which was carried unanimously.
"MRT is the peak industry body for one of the largest economic drivers in this region, which is currently suffering greatly," Cr Holden said.
"Traditionally they would get a fair whack of their money just prior to the end of the financial year. It is envisaged that if they can provide some relief to their members - through allowing them to extend their payments out and ensure they keep their members - that will have a pretty severe effect on their cash flow.
"By Council providing the full amount of the contract upfront, instead of a month-by-month basis, it doesn't actually cost Council or the community any additional funds.
"But it ensures that MRT has the working capital, to make sure that as soon as this period of unrest and unprecedented economic downturn is finalised, that they are in a position to pounce on the market.
"And ensure that the tourism industry comes back bigger and better than it was before."
Also at the meeting, Council voted to transfer approved Events Assistance funding - for events that have been rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic - to the 2020/21 financial year.
Furthermore, events that were granted multi-year funding commencing in 2019/20, are rolled forward to commence their three-year funding from the 2020/21 financial year.
The Events Assistance program is designed to assist local community events that benefit the local economy and attract visitors to the Region.
Rescheduled events are; the Cadillac LaSalle Club of Australia 2020 Nationals, originally March/April 2020, moved to October 2020; Wings Wheels and Wine, originally April 2020, moved to a date to be confirmed; and the Mudgee Classic, originally May 2020, moved to May 2021.
Payments already made will remain with the event organisers to be used as approved for the rescheduled events.
Organisations with multiyear funding are; Henry Lawson Society; Arts Council Gulgong; Cudgegong Cruisers; Gulgong Prince of Wales Eisteddfod. They won't have to re-apply for Events Assistance for the period 2020/21 through to 2022/23.
