Beating the odds to taste success

MARTI ZUCCO: You have to ask how the Taste of Tasmania was able to reach its 30th birthday with all the controversy, the funding debate and the political interference it has experienced.

Festival Mushrooms co-owner Giovanni Bertelli at the 30th Taste of Tasmania. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

YOU have to ask how the Taste of Tasmania was able to reach its 30th birthday with all of the controversy, the funding debate and political interference, in particular by those who have no understanding of events or the benefits of such an event has to the state and not simply based on tourism.

My continuing mantra for a successful Taste has been:

CLEAR Taste terms of reference including at least 90 per cent Tasmanian product.

INDEPENDENT board of industry professionals to oversee the Taste.

PROMOTE Tasmanian talent in entertainment, hospitality and other associated fields.

FUNDING from Hobart City Council, in cash and kind, increased by CPI or similar.

STATE government funding as a per cent of gross economic return to the state.

INNOVATION and incubation component so small producers can be part of the event on a small scale to provide an opportunity for new businesses to expose their products.

ANY surplus at the end of the Taste be directed towards to growing the event.

STALLHOLDER rental fees to be professionally reviewed to reflect commercial reality and not based on turnover.

Now that the 30th Taste is over, Hobart City Council elected members need to evaluate whether the expenditure of $1.6 million of ratepayer funds was worth it.

Like any event pleasing every participant and attendee would be the ultimate but in reality there will always be those with legitimate cause for complaint or those who want to be negative.

Brooke Whelan from Last Rites Brewery won “best beer” at this year's Taste of Tasmania. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

After attending every day, sometimes two or three times a day, chatting with participants, walking the site a number of times including people-watching, and after attending the past 29 Tastes, I can say the 30th is up there as one of the best.

Frankly so it should be with the huge funding boost Hobart City Council gave for this event.

Considering the upheaval of the past few years where council embarked on the impossible to make the event cost-neutral, it is so refreshing to see its revitalisation in the very short time with new Taste director Brooke Webb at the helm.

Brooke’s vision was helped by the fact that council approved the $1.6 million budget and most importantly, was able to deliver without having to appease council’s political arm. The delegated authority was with the general manager and this was the catalyst in ensuring the Taste made it to 30 events rather than continue on its downward spiral.

My support for the increased funding was based on the general manager having that delegated authority and I believe that’s been the gamechanger.

Theo Kessler from Shred Burgers and Shimmy Shakes. Picture: EDDIE SAFARIK

After advocating for an independent authority for years, I support the current model because it allows an artistic director such as Brooke the freedom to deliver without having to constantly look over her shoulder to not only keep her boss happy but also the elected members who have been the thorn in the side of the event for as long as I can remember.

Now that we have reached the 30th milestone we must accept it’s grown up. However, a stable future is paramount in ensuring long-term viability.

The Hobart City Council should continue to part-fund the Taste because it has benefits to the city but it also benefits the state.

It’s not the Taste of Hobart, it’s the Taste of Tasmania, showcasing the very best of our state’s produce. There is no doubt there is a spin-off for the entire state so therefore there must be some serious state government support, along with assistance from neighbouring councils.

The Taste greatly enhances our overall tourism. Government support should be predominantly based on what the Taste delivers in promoting Tasmanian produce and how it assists a full range of producers — farmers, distillers, brewers, chefs, the gamut of our tourism and hospitality industries.

Tasmanian Aboriginal-inspired food at the 30th Taste of Tasmania, including native pepper berry, crickets and pulled wallaby. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

The Liberal Government says it supports small business so what better way to demonstrate that commitment than to fund the Taste to at least a third of the budget. This would be a tangible demonstration of the Government’s small business policies.

It’s also important for the Hobart City Council’s $1.6 million budget to be approved for the next three years or so to allow the Taste director a clear passage to lift the event even further to secure sponsorship for its long-term viability, while at the same time reduce the burden on Hobart ratepayers.

You need to spend money to make money and that’s why we need a long-term plan for a Taste to sell to sponsors.

The question is, will elected members accept they need to agree on a three to five-year funding deal allowing the general manager the delegated authority to deliver?

I urge my fellow elected members to bite the bullet because we can then effectively deliver an event of which we can all be proud.

I also again urge the State Government to seriously consider one-third funding of the event based on what it delivers for Tasmania both directly and indirectly. This is one event where the Tasmanian Government must play its role for the sake of our small niche producers and small business generally.

Marti Zucco is an alderman of the Hobart City Council.