App for once-a-year Darwin International Laksa Festival to cost NT government nearly $30K

THE NT government has spent almost $30,000 to redevelop an app specifically created for an annual food festival, with new features to include giving people the ability to track ‘how much laksa’ they’ve eaten.

The NT Government has spent almost $30,000 to redevelop an app specifically created for the annual Darwin International Laksa Festival. Picture: Tourism NT/Matt Cherubino

THE NT government has spent almost $30,000 to redevelop an app specifically created for an annual food festival, with new features to include giving people the ability to track “how much laksa” they’ve eaten.

Government records show the Department of Chief Minister recently awarded a contract worth $29,040 to a developer to rework the app for the annual Darwin International Laksa Festival, which will be held for the second time for a month from October 29.

Departmental bureaucrats defended the price tag, saying the app was being redeveloped to significantly improve functionality, including the ability for social media sharing, changes to the voting process and to “assist in promoting the festival”.

“The additional functionality includes gamification to create a sense of friendly rivalry between people about how much laksa has been consumed,” a government spokeswoman said.

“Also, providing the ability for data collection that was not available in the previous app.”

Melanie Chin, from Chok’s Place, with the golden bowl trophy for the 2019 Darwin International Laksa Festival. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

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The app’s price tag means it will eat up 15 per cent of the festival’s total estimated budget, which the government has set at $200,000.

The funding will cover the month-long food trail, the grand finale event, the website, the app, advertising and “all other elements”.

“Last year, the event delivered more than $1 million in earned media coverage for the NT, including national and international coverage, and inquiries have already been received from interstate visitors hoping to travel for this year’s event,” the spokeswoman said.

“Feedback from the first year’s festival has been taken into account to improve the 2020 event, including improvements to the app to make it more user-friendly and to incorporate new elements after a successful first year.”

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The spokeswoman said the inaugural festival in 2019 was highly successful, increasing foot traffic and sales of laksa at participating venues by 41 per cent compared to the same period the year prior.