Bega Valley Shire Council will not fund Eden’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display this year, leaving the annual event in jeopardy.
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Council will instead focus its resources on the Sapphire Coast New Year’s Eve Spectacular in Merimbula.
BVSC director of community, relations and leisure, Anthony Basford, said the fireworks were not a council-run activity.
“The council has recently written to the organisers advising them that the funds received in previous years towards the fireworks are not available this year as council is focusing its support on the shire-wide event,” Mr Basford said.
Council has usually granted $5000 towards the fireworks display, which have featured across Eden’s skyline over the past 14 years.
Eden Service and Social Club Inc (ESSCI) president Jim Chenhall said he was disappointed in council’s decision but still held hope for the event.
”We’re hoping to arrange something on New Year’s Eve, but funding’s the issue,” Mr Chenhall said.
“I’m really disappointed. Eden was the first to start off the fireworks night and Merimbula came in the next year, which is fine.
“But we’ve put a lot of volunteer effort into it, so it would be a shame to lose it. People come down to watch it in big numbers.”
Hundreds of spectators attended last year’s display.
Eden Chamber of Commerce president Jenny Robb was also disappointed but said she understood the challenges facing council.
“It’s disappointing because Eden’s profile as a tourist destination is rising,” she said.
Mr Basford said council had spent considerable time over the past 12 months reviewing all its community grants programs.
“In the last calendar year council in good faith provided events funding to all groups, including the Eden Chamber, that had been funded (in) previous years as a transition to the new process,” he said.
“Part of the correspondence at the time advised all recipients that the review had been undertaken and a new process would be implemented in the future.”
He said festivals and events grants would open later this year.
Mr Chenhall said a decision on the fireworks display would soon be made as the pyrotechnicians needed to make their order.
ESSCI will meet on Monday evening, July 17.
