Five major events have been allocated grants totalling $315,000 in the second round of funding under QLDC’s Events Strategy.

The strategy enables the Council to facilitate, support and grow events in the District. Mayor Vanessa van Uden said the funding was a way for the Council to reinvest in the community, by supporting events that would bring economic, social or cultural benefits for the District. “With these grants, we aim to support new events or enable existing events to grow and develop further,” she said.

Applications are considered in three categories: Commercial Events, Major Community Events and Local Community Events.

Applications for up to $30,000 are considered by the Events Funding Panel, while the full Council considers applications for larger amounts. The applications are considered using criteria including the number of visitors the event will attract, the media profile and the size and significance of the event.

 

The major grants approved in the latest funding round are:

NZ Open Golf Championship - $100,000

Queenstown Marathon and Festival of Running - $80,000

Warbirds over Wanaka - $55,000

Challenge Wanaka - $40,000

Queenstown Bike Festival - $40,000

 

The Events Panel has also approved in-kind support for:

Rippon Music Festival – value $9898

NZ National boxing Championships – value $9020

Arrowtown Autumn Festival – value $6500

Gibbston Wine and Food Series – value $3778

Lake Hayes A&P Show – value $2668

Motatapu – value $2520

Rabbit Ridge 3-6-12 Hour Race – value $2280

Arrowtown Events Welcome Party – value $1488

Gibbston Summer Concert – value $1368
Southern Lakes Half Marathon – value $1300

NZ Gold Panning Championships – value $1228
Cardrona Enduro – value $920

The decisions were made by the Council on 24 September. Applications for the next funding round will open on 4 November.

 

ENDS

By: QLDC