Festival change saves $300k

Councillors have saved the Town of Port Hedland more than $300,000 by forcing the local government to reduce its funding for the North West Festival, Deputy Mayor Camilo Blanco and Mayor Kelly Howlett say.

The comments come after the Town had previously kicked in $500,000 to underwrite the music festival’s costs in each of its first four years.

However in February, councillors changed tack, voting 6-2 to reduce Town funding this year to $150,000.

The reduced funding had threatened to force the event’s cancellation or its reduction from a three-day event to a single-day festival.

Yet since that time, the Town announced the event was back on track after it found two new major sponsors, MACRO Realty Developments and Roy Hill.

Speaking at last week’s council meeting, Cr Blanco asked Town chief executive Mal Osborne if these new sponsors had guaranteed their funding commitments.

Mr Osborne replied each sponsor had signed contracts obliging them to make the payments.

Cr Blanco, who had campaigned to reduce funding for the festival, then asked Cr Howlett if it meant the council has negotiated a $300,000 saving.

As a supporter of the festival, Cr Howlett replied yes to Cr Blanco, before quickly adding it was the work of Town staff, who stepped up to secure the new sponsorships, which had saved the day and ensured the festival’s future.