Toowoomba council votes to move funding for 19 events, including Crows Nest Festival, Clifton Country Week, Jacaranda Day, to competitive model

They were attended by nearly 17,000 people over the past year, but 19 Toowoomba community events will face a fight to earn council funding — and for some, it will mean far less cash.

Hassan Akram, holding Noah Akram, with Aishath Azma at Jacaranda Day in Goombungee in 2021. The event is one of several that will be moved to competitive funding by the Toowoomba Regional Council. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Nearly 20 community events across the region will soon have to fight for funding from the Toowoomba Regional Council, in a move one councillor said could hurt small towns.

Councillors voted at Wednesday’s meeting to move funding for 19 events, including Jacaranda Day at Goombungee and Clifton Country Week, to a competitive model over the next three years.

The council currently provides more than $35,000 to the events, with amounts ranging from $500 to $5000.

According to a report by community development officer Breanna McCarthy, the change was prompted after issues were raised around the transparency of organisers around an event’s goals and outcomes.

“For the past decade, council has guaranteed financial and in-kind support towards 19 events across 14 regional townships, with minimal acquittal or reporting expectation,” she wrote.

“Despite aiming to retain regional town identity, build community capacity and spirit, and acknowledge community leadership and service, a number of communities struggle to meet these objectives.

“The current format of support does not provide an equitable opportunity for all regional events, demonstrating perceived favouritism to specific events, potentially disadvantaging access to funding for the creation or sustainability of new or other existing events.”

Under the new format, all events would be moved to the Event Support Grant Program and be eligible for a share in $79,000.

While some will be able to earn more funding through the grants program, events like the Colours of Yarraman will see their funds at least halved.

Cr Carol Taylor.

Carol Taylor, who was the only councillor to not support the motion, said she was concerned this could hurt smaller communities in the long run.

“I do not want to see community events put into a competitive tender,” she said.

“The events are there to engender a sense of community.

“What we’re saying is you’re only going to get assistance if it ticks all the boxes.

“I’ll die in the ditch for these communities, and they should be able to get some assistance from council without us putting it into a competitive round.”

EVENTS MOVING TO COMPETITIVE FUNDING

• Clifton Country Week - Currently receiving $2000 (2000 people)

• Colours of Yarraman - $3150 (150 people)

• Crows Nest Day Festival - $5000 (2000 people)

• Jacaranda Day (Goombungee) - $2350 (4000 people)

• Westbrook Family Fun Day - $1000 (unknown)

• Cambooya Community Christmas Party - $2000 (300 people)

• Carols on the Fields (Highfields) - $3700 (1500 people)

• Cecil Plains Christmas Carnival - $1200 (1000 people)

• Christmas in the Village (Pittsworth) - $1500 (120 people)

• Clifton Christmas Street Carnival - $1500 (600 people)

• Cooyar Community Christmas - $605 (100 people)

• Crows Nest Cristmas in the Park - $500 (600 people)

• Goombungee Community Christmas - $950 (150 people)

• Christmas in Kingsthorpe - $500 (250 people)

• Millmerran Carols by Candlelight - $600 (150 people)

• Millmerran Christmas In The Bush - $1000 (850 people)

• Nobby Carols in the Park - $1000 (200 people)

• Oakey Santa Fair - $4000 (2000 people)

• Pittsworth Christmas in the Park - $3000 (900 people)