New free council service for event organisers

Eurobodalla Shire Council's commitment to growing and promoting events that build the economy has been renewed with a new free service designed especially for event organisers.

Council's event coordinator is available to help people through the event application process and with marketing activities and can also identify funding sources and grants to help develop local festivals and events.

Eurobodalla Mayor Lindsay Brown says securing new events was a key recommendation in council's Tourism Destination Management Plan that was endorsed in 2011.

"This new service will ensure that Eurobodalla becomes known as a great place to stage large scale events including music festivals and sporting and cultural events. It will also assist smaller festivals and events that benefit local residents and increase visitor numbers," said Cr Brown.

Council supported the 2013 South Coast Tennis Open which attracted 228 entrants and more than 400 visitors on the June long weekend.

"When they are here, visitors spend money on accommodation, eating out, shopping, transport and our other attractions and this event alone contributed an estimated $100,000 to the local economy," Cr Brown said.

He added that events that meet the criteria of council's Event Assistance Program may even be offered financial support.

"Council's event coordinator can help organisers determine if their event meets the program's criteria. The Event Assistance Program aims to reduce the seasonal peaks and troughs of the local tourism industry by supporting an all year round event calendar."

Council is now reviewing events being run throughout the Eurobodalla to assess their characteristics, timing, and their ability to attract different visitor markets.

"We want to work out the best way to promote them and how we can help," Cr Brown said.

If you have a new event planned, an idea in the pipeline, or you would like your event listed on council's tourism event calendar, please call 4474 1209.