A City of Launceston council department has come under fire from a councillor for going against its policy.
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Deputy mayor Danny Gibson hit out at the council's events and sponsorship team after it recommended giving $46,000 per year, for the next two years, to Beerfest No1 organisers.
The council's policy stipulates the city's premier New Year's Eve event is eligible for a $40,000 council contribution.
In 2018, the event got $46,125 funding from the council.
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Beerfest had already received $6000 from the council in 2018, for the event that was to be held on December 15, but when approached to host the New Year's Eve event, it received the additional $40,000 sponsorship.
In assessing the next stage of the three-year funding contribution it was recommend they receive $46,000 for the next two years.
Based on the 2018 event "exceeding expected benefits", the council's department recommended giving the event the same amount, the council's agenda said.
At the meeting, Cr Gibson labelled this as inappropriate and poor because it meant other events would miss out on $6000 funding.
He then tried to move an alternate motion to give the event $40,000. It was seconded by Councillor Paul Spencer.
Cr Spencer said the event was obviously making money, and the council should only support by giving the event $40,000.
This was followed by another motion by Councillor Hugh McKenzie and Councillor Jim Cox to lay the motion on the table pending further information. The motion passed unanimously.
The council will seek information about the event's viability to go ahead without the extra $6000. The agenda item will be brought back to the next meeting.
Cr Gibson said the 2018 event ticked all the boxes, and organisers did an outstanding job to put it on at such late notice to ensure Launceston had an event. Councillor Andrea Dawkins said Launceston was a ghost town on New Year's Eve before, but Beerfest had made it vibrant and should be supported.
Councillor Rob Soward said he attended the event and only heard one complaint which was the event run out of beer and food.
"That's because 2000 more people went than expected. Will they learn from that? Absolutely. What a great problem to have," he said.
Councillor Hugh McKenzie congratulated Beerfest organisers on its funding application report. He said it was one of the best reports he'd ever seen.
More than 8800 people attended the 2018 event.
Councillor Karina Stojansek and Councillor Nick Dakin were not at the meeting.
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