Hobart alderman Marti Zucco calls for more Government funding for Taste of Tasmania

The State Government must pay a greater portion of the costs for Taste of Tasmania or the event could be lost, a Hobart alderman has warned.

Shep Huntley performing at the Taste of Tasmania last week. Picture: EDDIE SAFARIK

THE State Government must fund at least one-third of the costs for Taste of Tasmania or the event could be lost, according to a Hobart alderman.

Alderman Marti Zucco also wants Greater Hobart councils including Glenorchy, Clarence and Kingborough to contribute to the event that he says benefits the entire state.

At a closed session at Wednesday night’s community, culture and events meeting, the council will consider a report into the future delivery model of Taste.

The Taste of Tasmania attracted a record crowd this year, with 260,000 people through the gates.

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The council boosted the festival’s budget by $400,000 to a total of $1.6 million last year.

Ald Zucco said it was time for the Government to stump up more cash for the event, which has evolved from a food and drinks festival to a dynamic week-long event with New Year’s Eve fireworks as its centrepiece.

“If the State Government does not become a partner in the Taste of Tasmania it could be placing the Taste in jeopardy,” he said.

“I don’t believe the ratepayers of Hobart should be spending $1.6 million of their rates for an event that benefits the entire southern region and the state.”

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Crowds pass through the Taste entry on the first day. Picture: EDDIE SAFARIK

Ald Zucco is urging his council colleagues to support a minimum three-year funding deal for the festival to secure its future.

Taste of Tasmania benefits not just the tourism industry but also small Tasmanian businesses and producers, said Ald Zucco

A State Government spokesman said this year the Government provided the Taste of Tasmania with about $100,000 in support made up of a funding grant and through subsidised venue access.

“The Government is in continual contact with the City of Hobart regarding the festival, however no ongoing request for funding has been made,” the spokesman said.

“In the last financial year, Events Tasmania provided funding to around 100 events, and of the events that occurred in that period over $82 million was returned to the visitor economy.”

Councillor Holly Ewin said she did not believe Taste was a viable investment for the city, at least not at the current level of investment.

“I’d rather see the event taken on privately and the money spent on community-led initiatives,” she said.

Alderman Tanya Denison said with new income streams opening up with corporate sponsorship and revenue-generating culinary experiences, Taste could become self-funded to a large degree.