POOR TASTE

HOBART City Council will ask for more money from the State Government to run the Taste of Tasmania Festival after expenses for last year’s event blew out to cost ratepayers more than $1 million.

The council will seek $250,000 in cash and “in-kind” support from the Government to stage the Taste on the Hobart waterfront over Christmas-New Year period.

Last year, the council said the Government gave $50,000 cash, that was passed on to stallholders, and about $26,500 in “in-kind” support. the

But a Government spokesman said the figure was $150,000. The cost of staging the last event hit $1.029 million — the highest since 2012-13, which cost $1.043 million.

A report on the Taste, to be presented to the council on Monday, will detail the high costs for were because of: UNFORESEEN circumstances such as a shuttle bus service. POST- event market research. PROMOTION costs. ADDITIONAL contractor and staffing costs. IMPROVED sewerage and toilets.

Hobart Lord Mayor Sue Hickey said an increase in sponsorship from the Government would help the council halve the stallholder turnover levy to 5 per cent — as recommended by the Taste Advisory Group.

“To keep this a really vibrant event we need to keep it competitive and that [the drop in turnover levy] will help us achieve that,” she said.

“What we really, really need is the shed [Princes Wharf 1] rent free. It costs a lot of money to rent it so if the State Government could give that rent free that would really help.

“A little bit of contribution would be worth the State Government’s time, we’ve done research that indicates that there’s a direct contribution of $20 million to the Tasmanian economy from it and an associated $39 million.

“We are promoting Tasmanian produce. It’s not like Dark Mofo’s Winter Feast which has a deal with Asahi, from Japan.”

A Government spokesman said it would need a business case from the council if it was to consider further funding.

“Last year the Government gave the Taste of Tasmania over $150,000 in cash and inkind support,” the spokesman said.

“We would need to be convinced of the merits of providing increased funding.”

The council report on the Taste said if the additional sponsorship or grant could not be secured, it would mean the cost of the 2017-18 event to council would be $1.03 million — much larger than the council’s budgeted allocation of $845,152.

The total council investment of $1.029 million was part of a total operating expenditure of $2.794 million for the 2016-17 event.

Revenue was down by $270,000 to $1.765 million because of reduced attendances, with the report saying a heavy downpour of 34.8mm on New Year’s Day meant only 13,423 patrons came through the gates that day — compared with 41,999 and 34,695 the previous two years.

The report said lower than anticipated bar and stallholder sales and decreased sponsorships also contributed to the decreased revenue.

The 2016-17 Taste also copped criticism that there was too much alcohol at the expense of food. Alderman Hickey said poor weather had a big impact on the last event.

Ald Marti Zucco, a former Taste of Tasmania organising committee chairman, said excuses should not be made.

“Using the weather is just an excuse ... it’s been the political arm of the council that has caused the problem,” he said.