Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald responds to concerns about future of Festival of Food and Wine at Carnival of Flowers
Mayor Geoff McDonald has weighed in on the future of a marquee event at this year’s Carnival of Flowers, conceding changes were ‘inevitable’. DETAILS.
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Changes to the upcoming Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers are “inevitable” according to mayor Geoff McDonald, in the clearest indication the popular Festival of Food and Wine would be canned or heavily reshaped.
Mr McDonald was grilled on the future of the massive three-day event, which attracts 13,000 people every year and considered a marquee event of the carnival in September.
His comments come after News Corp revealed the festival had been pulled from this year’s sponsorship prospectus, being replaced by a smaller-scale two-day event.
The revelations blindsided several councillors while leaving CBD business owners and accommodation providers shocked considering the event’s financial windfall.
When asked if he knew about any potential changes to this year’s event, Mr McDonald acknowledged the financial pressures the council and co-ordinators were under.
“What I do know is that change in everything is inevitable — what that change may look like would be different for every circumstance,” he said.
“Food and Wine Festival, the Floral Parade, other activities that happen – change will be inevitable.
“There are pressures on all areas (of council) to deliver and making sure (events are) affordable, accessible, making sure that they maintain that level so that people want to go and be part of them.
“We need to have a look at the risks associated with it, what the impact is on the community, what benefit there is to the community more broadly.
“That’ll be the same with the Food and Wine Festival and the same with any other event that takes place.”
Mr McDonald said councillors would have the chance to scrutinise any potential changes to the carnival at this month’s meeting.
“This is a standard review practice to have a look at what that is, and I’m sure councillors will provide some feedback that they’ve received, but also feedback that they themselves have from attending those activities,” he said.
“I’m very confident the councillors will have their input and will make the right decision – I’m supremely confident.
“We have got an amazing group of elected representatives, who are working strongly together.”
The next round of committee meetings are slated for next week, followed by an ordinary meeting on February 18.
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