Taste of Mascot returns home after intervention
A TASTE of Mascot food festival will return to its original home this year. It comes after a MP branded the current festival “dreadful”.
Southern Courier
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A TASTE of Mascot food festival will return to its original home this year.
The much-loved event had been held in Bourke St since its inception in 2014.
However, Bayside Council moved it to Mascot Memorial Park following the amalgamation of Rockdale and Botany councils.
Earlier this year councillor Ed McDougall raised questions about the new location with Heffron state Labor MP Ron Hoenig branding its Memorial Park reincarnation as “dreadful”.
The council’s event team gave a presentation to councillors last week and persuaded them that the memorial park was the best option. But this was dismissed and it was decided to move it back to Bourke St.
“The councillors felt that in changing the location to the park the event had lost its original intent of being a vibrant street food fare,” a Bayside spokeswoman said.
The council had previously said it had saved $71,000 since taking over the running of the event.
It is budgeted to cost $140,000 next year although a council spokeswoman said the change of venue could led to increased costs due to security requirements and road closures.
Mr Hoenig said he was pleased the council had “got on board”.
“I have been saying for months that Bourke St is the right place for a Taste of Mascot,” he said.
“The people of Mascot are entitled to a world-class food fair and the only location for that is in the Mascot Station precinct”
“This is no ‘barbecue in a park’; it’s a high-quality event that puts Mascot on the map. As I told the council, for it to be successful they need the artistic flair of the experts, which simply no council has”
The council is in talks with former MasterChef winner Adam Liaw and My Kitchen Rules twins Helena and Vikki Moursellas for 2018’s event. It will be held in late October early November.
“Now that we have the location we will work quickly to finalise the date,” the council spokeswoman said. “It will continue to be held on a Sunday from 11am to 4pm and will be in late October/November when the weather is warmer.”
“A Taste of Mascot will be all about great food and entertainment,” Mayor Bill Saravinovski said. “It will bring locals and visitors together to showcase everything that is great about being part of Bayside.”
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