Revamped Taste posts lower loss

THE reshaped Taste of Tasmania has posted an improved financial performance, but still lost money.

Early reports indicate the event cost $111,000 less in net operating costs.

Taste festival director Brooke Webb presented the first wash up from the 2017-18 event to Hobart City Council aldermen earlier this week.

Despite having only weeks to put it on after taking the position in August, the event was considered a general success.

While subject to a full audit by Hobart firm Wise, Lord and Ferguson the first report from last year’s event — using audience tracking from Myriad Research — found there was; A NET operating cost of $705,090, $111,541 less than the approved budget ahead of last year’s event of $819,092. EXPENSES of $2.18 million, nearly $400,000 less than budgeted by the council. A CROWD increase of about 10,000 to 220,852, including an increase of state-based attendees by six per cent with international visitors also increasing and 51 per cent of the crowd female. But the proportion of interstate attendees fell by more than four per cent and the revenue for the event was $380,000 less than the $1.4 million predicted — with a less than budgeted sponsorship and retail activities contributing to this.

And while there was an increase in total attendance, this was down on the crowd for 2015-16 and 2014-15, although the council is saying the research from this year is a much more approximate figure

Ms Webb — who is already busy coming up with a concept for this year’s 30th anniversary of the Taste — said the positives outweighed the negative results, with the Festival well placed to go forward.

Hobart acting Lord Mayor Ron Christie said after the 2016-17 event being plagued by poor weather and politics — resulting in the expenses for the event blowing out to cost ratepayers more than $1 million — it was positive to see some good results.

“It’s still being audited but costs have been above $1 million for the last few years,” he said.

Last year’s Taste was helped by the hire fee of Princes Wharf No 1 being waived — saving the council $90,000 — and Ald. Christie said the council would explore further assistance to ensure the 30th anniversary of the event would be one to remember.

“We want to make it a really good celebration,” he said.

“Brooke has been a breath of fresh air for it, “he said.

“She came in at the 11th hour and put on a great festival last time so we will give her all the support she needs for the next one.”

The council’s community, culture and events committee will consider the report on Wednesday with a further one outlining the planning of this year’s event to be provided to council in due course.