City of Mandurah councillors will outsource the management of their new seasonal Winter Wonderland event to ensure its price tag is kept down after unexpected costs in its inaugural year.
Winter Wonderland is a family-friendly winter-themed event that includes live entertainment, food and drink options from local businesses and free winter activities for all ages.
The event was foundered in 2017, to help attract visitors to the city and to boost the local economy in the colder months.
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City of Mandurah officers have recommended that councillors open an expression of interest process to find a manager for the local event.
The move came after council requested officers to prepare a business and operations plan based on the concept of outsourcing the event from 2018 at their December meeting.
In its first year, councillors dubbed the event as successful but acknowledged changes needed to be made ahead of hosting the celebration again.
In December, council acknowledged the event was put together in a short timeframe and a number of “learnings from the event” needed to be considered.
The net cost of the 2018 event was about $110,000.
This year, council are discussing whether $140,000 will be need to be allocated in the 2018/19 budget.
The City of Mandurah will look to recover some of its investment through either a revenue or profit sharing model.
Councillors will also consider if paid activities during the event could be included as part of the Winter Wonderland program.
Mandurah mayor Rhys Williams said council realised the event played an important role in activating community participation and engagement, as well as helping local business in the quieter months.
“For a window where the traders down there don’t get much business activity, it provides some activity,” he said.
“We’re going to throw it open to the community to drive this for us.
“We want to see something really special there over a really quite period. Then we’ll do the evaluation to reflect on whether that model works.”
The role will be advertised after council give the recommendations the final tick of approval at their March 27 meeting.
To view the criterion of the role visit the City of Mandurah’s website and view council’s March 13 meeting agenda.