POOR TASTE

DOUBTS OVER TASSIE’S PEAK FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL

IN another blow to the struggling hospitality industry, one of the state’s major food festivals is likely to be cancelled this year.

A report to be tabled at a Hobart City Council meeting on Monday says the future is too uncertain to proceed with the Taste of Tasmania.

The iconic eight-day summer event draws about 30,000-35,000 people through its gates each day, with attendance reaching 50,000 on some days.

Given social distancing and the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus crisis, the report recommends the council review the event’s future. A smaller pop-up New Year’s Eve event with fireworks may still go ahead.

Destination Southern Tasmania chief Alex Heroys said the potential cancellation of the Taste of Tasmania would leave a huge hole in the state’s summer events calendar.

THE Taste of Tasmania is set to be the latest casualty of the coronavirus pandemic, with calls already for something to fill the large void in the middle of a usually packed Tasmanian summer event season.

In yet another blow for the state’s hospitality and tourism industries, the traditional eight-day food and beverage festival is not expected to go ahead, as the Hobart City Council directs funding to more urgent projects.

A council report to be discussed at its meeting on Monday night says there are “too many unknowns” to go ahead with the iconic summer event, and recommends it be cancelled.

A smaller pop-up New Year’s Eve event with fireworks may still go ahead.

“The Taste averages 30,000 to 35,000 people through the gates in a day,” the council report states. “The site is at times extremely busy with peak loads in the shed and at the entertainment stages, meaning that people are in very close proximity to each other for long periods of time.

“Many commentators are suggesting social distancing is here to stay for some time — at least until a vaccine for COVID-19 is developed and distributed — which could be 18 months away. There has been no indication yet of when or how large-scale outdoor events such as the Taste should proceed — in fairness, it is too early for government to accurately give such a commitment.”

Destination Southern Tasmania chief Alex Heroys said the potential cancellation would leave a huge hole in the state’s summer.

“There is no doubt that a summer without the Taste of Tasmania — perhaps the key event and rallying point for the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race finish — will leave a huge hole in the state’s event landscape,” he said.

“With uncertainty surrounding short to mediumterm levels of visitation, operational issues with social distancing and the reduction in revenue for the council, we can understand that the [cancellation] conversation needs to be had now.”

Labor leader Rebecca White said the event generated revenue for hundreds of Tasmanian small businesses, both directly and indirectly.

“The State Government must ensure that every dollar that would have been spent on the Taste of Tasmania remains committed to hosting summer events that will support our tourism, hospitality, arts and culture businesses as they work hard to recover from the impacts of COVID-19,” she said.

The format of the event was due to be reviewed as council looked for a new director to take the event to the “next level”.

Stallholder John Caire has sold his popular tempura vegetables at the Taste since its inception 32 years ago, and said it was time to overhaul the festival during the downtime.

“This is the opportune time to re-look at the Taste entirely, because it’s got out of control.

“The council can’t continue to pump millions of dollars into it,” he said.

“I think it should be reduced to four days and not try to be a music festival, a gin festival, a whisky festival and everything else. It was originally a food and wine festival, and I think it should be brought back to its origins. That will mean Hobart ratepayers aren’t subsidising something for the rest of the state as well.”