Brimbank’s biggest community event is at risk of folding without long-term financial backing, a St Albans businessman believes.
St Albans Traders Association president Sam Agricola is hopeful the annual St Albans Lunar Festival, held in January and funded by a $10,000 Brimbank council grant, will attract ongoing backing from a newly-elected council.
Star Weekly revealed last year the council proposes to cut funds for community festivals as a result of a cap on rate rises being introduced.
The council has given $10,000 to the festival, which attracts more than 70,000 visitors, for at least the past five years, but from 2017, the festival will be reliant on the trader group’s special rates scheme, state government grants, fundraising and private sponsorships.
Mr Agricola said the council “cannot guarantee further funds due to uncertainty in relation to finances”.
“It would be a pity if there was no further funding available, as such an event, which is the biggest community event in Brimbank, brings significant economic and social benefits,” he said. “A loss of funding from council, combined with a failure to obtain state government grants, would put the future of the festival at risk, as costs are ever increasing.
“I am not at all criticising council, as we do understand the financial pressures caused by the rates cap, and appreciate its support. But we have always hoped for greater financial support to secure the continuation of the event.”
The Sydenham Kite Festival, held on November 20, has also been forced to downsize to “bare bones” due to a lack of funds.
Festival organisers recently incorporated as CALDERS Community Incorporated (CCI) in an attempt to increase its profile and membership.
President Anni Ang said the festival received $7000 in grants from the council in the past, but no longer got a handout.
“To be considered [for another council grant] it must be a new event or cannot be the same. The question then is, how different can a kite festival be?
“This year we did not apply as we know we will not be considered.
“Ideally, $5000 to $7000 would allow us to be generous and allow us to continue giving away 200 kites for free to children … we might issue 50 to 100 kites [this year]. When we had grants, we had a stage for community performances.”
Council’s community wellbeing director Kath Brackett said Sydenham Kite Festival was “a good example of how community grants help establish community projects that grow beyond council’s support”.
