Event loss hits hard

Event cancellations due to COVID-19 have cost the Wimmera and southern Mallee more than $15-million.

The figures come from a Wimmera Development Association analysis of 40 events scheduled between March 22 and May 31.

Health advice and social distancing forced organisers to cancel or postpone plans due to COVID-19.

Event organisers advised cancellations cost the region $15.392-million in direct and a further $7-million in indirect spending.

They said their groups lost more than $800,000 in direct revenue and more than $120,000 in surplus.

The cancellations also affected almost 60,000 participants.

More than 20 of the community, cultural and sporting events the association surveyed had been scheduled for Horsham municipality, with Northern Grampians having seven and Yarriambiack, six.

These included annual drawcards such as the Stawell Gift, Grampians Grape Escape and Horsham Country Music Festival.

Wimmera Development Association executive director Chris Sounness said the region had a vibrant autumn events calendar, centred on Easter.

“Events are an important part of the Wimmera community, playing a major role in bringing people together and attracting visitors to the region,” he said.

“Early into the response to COVID-19, we realised the cancellation of these events was going to have huge impacts in our region – financially and socially – and these results paint a powerful picture of that impact.”