“There was also an acknowledgement that council needs to improve its time taken to assess and approve events,” council’s General Manager Adrian Butler said at council’s latest monthly meeting on March 28.
Mr Butler was commenting after an address to council by the Corowa Chamber Commerce events committee’s Steve Kent.
“There has been a large degree of frustration across the community groups in the increased conditions in running events and the lack of response from council in approvals to conduct those events,” Mr Kent told The Free Press. “One approval was subject to 78 conditions.”
Corowa Chamber of Commerce convened a meeting with council in February. In attendance were representatives of various clubs including Rotary, Apex and Lions, and council’s Mr Butler and deputy mayor Shaun Whitechurch.
Mr Kent thanked the two senior council representatives “for attending, listening and most importantly, contributing”.
“It was generally a positive response from attendees and it has been a talking point in various circles with a keen desire to get actions happening.”
Issues mentioned by Mr Kent included the aerodrome master plan (Rotary Ball and possibly music festival), Billycart Championships (multiple community involvement including the council), the possibility of tourism grants, better insurance options, the pioneer cemetery and wetlands.
“Corowa has a great foundation for the participants to work together and it is imperative to hold regular meetings going forward,” Mr Kent, who was supported by former Corowa Shire Mayor and former Rotary President Paul Miegel, said.
An excellent event organiser himself, Cr Whitechurch emphasised the need for groups to inform council as early as possible of event dates, the event program and special requirements “so council can work on how to make it easier to have the event”.
“We always have volunteers for these events but it’s all becoming too hard for whatever reason – in the case of the Billycarts, for example, although not until next year but let’s plan for it this year.”
Council resolved to write to community groups encouraging a collaborative approach to managing community events including applications to enable capacity building of representatives of the groups and further outline council’s requirements and approach to event applications and approvals.
Council will encourage the groups to work together on rekindling the Corowa Billy Cart races for 2024 with one of the groups becoming the event owner.
Cr Aaron Nicholls supported the approach and was successful in suggesting council encourage community groups to engage with Federation Youth Council to develop events aimed at the 10 to 18-year-olds.
