A major food tourism event expecting thousands of patrons has been denied funding by Ballarat City Council at its ordinary meeting on Wednesday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Councillors vote against a $22,300 tourism grant for the 2018 Ballarat Food Truck Carnival, raising concerns that food festivals coming to the city are not comprised of Ballarat hospitality businesses.
While event organisers said in a report they expected the four-day festival in February to have an economic impact of $548,500, council staff suggested those patron numbers were optimistic.
Cr Amy Johnson said by agreeing to a $2500 grant, contingent on a minimum of 30 per cent Ballarat participation, traders would be assured some benefit from the event.
READ MORE
“It will happen again, they will come back, and the money will leave Ballarat,” she said.
Pubs, restaurants and Commerce Ballarat complained in October that council was allowing food truck festivals, such as the Burger Festival in North Gardens, to use public land while not showcasing Ballarat businesses.
Cr Ben Taylor said he had heard it “loud and clear” from the city’s hospitality sector that previous food festivals had caused a reduction in their patronage.
“It uses out of town resources and employment, and then reaps the rewards of Ballarat’s business,” he said.
“Previous events did reduce the number of people eating in the CBD.
“Supporting something like that doesn’t look good for council.”
Council planning director Angelique Lush said she was not convinced the event would be beneficial to the community.
However she also said organisers intended to have Ballarat food representation. It was expected the 2018 Ballarat Food Truck Carnival would run without the tourism grant. Cr Johnson said in October that clean-up costs for food truck festivals were often left to council.