Geoff Helisma | The Event People’s Beach Carnivale held at Ford Park, Yamba on the weekend of June 16 and 17 has been rated “disappointing” by Clarence Valley Council (CVC). The Independent reported on the festival in last week’s edition, however, it appears that attendance figures quoted to the newspaper by the event coordinator were somewhat inflated. When this apparent anomaly was put to CVC, the council’ economic development coordinator, Liz Fairweather, said in an emailed response that “the promoter presented good credentials and demonstrated success in other locations”. “It was on that basis that council supported the event, but the result in Yamba was disappointing,” she said. Councillors approved a $3,500 sponsorship of the event at the December 2017 council meeting, among a number of other events recommended for sponsorship by CVC staff. The decision was taken without debate or question as part of a block vote, where all agenda items are called and those not flagged by councillors are approved unanimously. In recommending the sponsorship, staff wrote in the report to council: “[The] proposed new event for Yamba, making the most of outdoor natural surroundings, includes outdoor sports, food vans, and music aimed at families. “Event organisers have a national marketing and promotion plan, and [the] event has potential to promote and encourage the positive reputation of the Clarence Valley. “[With an] estimated 750 competitors (70% outside the Clarence Valley, which is 525 visitors) staying at least overnight. “[It] occurs in the off-season in Yamba, which is the preference for business owners.” The event was slated for May 12 and 13; however, the date was subsequently changed. Meanwhile, a similar application for sponsorship of the Yamba Bowling Club’s Eat to the Beat Festival, which was held the previous weekend, was not supported by councillors at the May council meeting – apart from councillors Peter Ellem and Karen Toms, who voted in favour of the $3,500 sponsorship. Council staff recommended the sponsorship on the basis that it would “provide an economic benefit of approximately $135,850, based on overnight visitors spend of $201 and day visitors $107 (according to Tourism Research Australia data)”. “Please note, these calculations are based on the minimum expected attendees, the organisers intend for up to 1,400 day trippers and 450 overnight visitors,” the report to council stated. “These simple and sustainable events need to be encouraged within the Clarence Valley events calendar. “The sponsorship funding will be directed towards the hiring of nationally recognized music acts in order to increase the profile of the event and thus attract visitors from outside the Clarence Valley.”The company that staged the ‘Beach Carnivale’ is based in Melbourne.