By Dominique Tassell
Locals have questioned why Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) is spending money on their own, free, events rather than encouraging existing events to grow.
Over the weekend, SDRC held their Granite Belt Beat, Bites and Bounce event.
While a Council spokesperson stated the event was a “resounding success” attended by 549 people, some locals have questioned why SDRC is not more heavily supporting existing events.
However, the problem may lie with the funding itself.
SDRC applied for the funding with outlines of the events, with the idea for Granite Belt Beat, Bites and Bounce coming from the Youth Council.
“That’s what we applied for, so that’s what we delivered,” said the Council spokesperson.
The Community Investments Stream of the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) “funds community development activities including, but not limited to, new or expanded local events, strategic regional plans, leadership and capability building activities”.
Round four of the funding targeted drought-affected communities.
SDRC previously stated that the Granite Belt Beat, Bites and Bounce event received $20,000 of Federal Government funding, with an SDRC contribution of approximately $5,000.
The Kick On Stanthorpe event received $30,000 of Federal Government funding, with an SDRC contribution of approximately $15,000.
That means an extra $20,000 of SDRC funding was directed to these events, with SDRC stating that final costs will not be known until after the events.
SDRC has not yet provided a funding breakdown for the Stanthorpe Music & Arts Festival.
While SDRC received the funds for these events specifically, locals have still stated they would prefer SDRC invest in existing events.
At the recent town planning meeting in Stanthorpe, a local wrote down that SDRC should “support proven events to continue to grow to economic uplift that does not rely on internal spend”.
They stated this would bring cash into the region rather than spending the money currently already in it.
Other locals have questioned why funding meant to support drought-affected communities is being used for events.
SDRC Vic Pennisi stated that the funding was being used to lift community morale and provide social outlets for residents in these communities, specifically youth in the region.
Locals have stated they would prefer funding be directed towards projects that will take advantage of the current wet season and protect the community from the next drought.
While SDRC was limited in what they could do with the Building Better Regions Funding, locals have questioned why they simply did not apply for the funding if it was unnecessary in the community.
More so given it has meant an extra $20,000 of SDRC funding was spent on these events.
