SA Health yet to approve COVID-safe plan for 2021 Port Lincoln Tunarama festival
The 2021 edition of Port Lincoln’s famous Tunarama festival hangs in the balance – less than three months from the event’s planned start.
Port Lincoln
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Organisers of Port Lincoln’s famous Tunarama festival say the annual event remains up in the air for 2021, less than three months out from its scheduled start.
The 60th edition of the event, home to the iconic tuna toss competition, is due to take place from January 22 to 24.
Tunarama co-coordinator Jane Intini said a COVID-safe plan was submitted in July but is yet to be approved by SA Health.
Ms Intini said the uncertainty made it difficult for event organisers to proceed with crucial planning for the festival, which first ran in 1962.
“We have cleared all the hurdles but the last one (an approved COVID-safe plan), which is I think most events are sitting,” she said.
“Most events seem to be in this pile of ‘we’ll let you know closer to the date’ but events don't work like that.
“For a community event like this we rely entirely on sponsorship and we can’t send out sponsorship invoice because we don’t know if we are going ahead or not.”
According to Ms Intini, last year’s Tunarama event attracted $3 million to the local economy with keen event goers booking out accommodation for the three-day weekend 12 months in advance.
“We do not have a problem with complying with the guidelines they (SA Health) put to us,” Ms Intini said.
“But many accommodation providers are already full on the basis that everybody knows that at the end of January this thing happens.”
The festival has already been scaled back from its usual schedule, with organisers scrapping the town parade, which can attracts up to 3000 people, fireworks and a free band stage along the foreshore.
If the event does get off the ground, Ms Intini hoped it would be somewhat of a reset button for the iconic festival.
“There are elements of Tunarama which are fabulous and you would never think to remove them and there are other elements that probably need an update with some new ideas,” she said.
“We are trying to find out way through all of that through this COVID environment which is so difficult for event organisers.”
Ms Intini, along with the rest of the Tunarama organising committee, hoped by November 25 they would be able to provide a clear outline of the event and what patrons can expect.
“These regional based events are run by a small and dedicated team who work their butts off to try and make something out of virtually nothing,” she said.
“We are doing absolutely everything to make this happen but SA Health have to tell us we can.”
A spokeswoman for SA Health acknowledged the event’s COVID safe plan was under review, but said as the event was taking place next year it had been pushed down the list.
“We are prioritising events that are closer and that is why it is taking so long to get approved,” she said.