Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
The City of Mandurah is adding a storytelling festival to its winter events calendar despite concerns from councillors about spending in the current cost-of-living crisis.
The council voted 8-4 at its October 27 meeting to move its Readers and Writers festival from January to the July school holidays and support a Scribblers Festival, a creative literacy and art festival focused on storytelling targeted at young people.
The move is intended to bolster what a council report said was a “comparatively quieter” time of year for events and businesses.
It said there were nearly half as many visitors to the city centre in winter than in summer.
A report on how the event went will be provided to the council.
The city has about $31,650 budgeted for the Readers and Writers Festival, and plans to contribute up to $60,000 for the Scribblers Festival, which is expected to bring in about $470,000 of benefits.
Cr Ahmed Zilani said the city had been spending about $250,000 annually to encourage economic activity and attract visitors during winter but questioned if it had delivered benefits to the community.
“Now we are considering a proposed partnership with FORM for the Scribblers Festival, involving a city cash contribution of up to $60,000,” he said. “I acknowledge that this is not a request for additional funding but it is still ratepayers’ money and we have a responsibility to ensure that every dollar is spent wisely.”
He said many of the city’s ratepayers were struggling with the rising cost of living.
“Under these circumstances, I believe we must carefully question whether spending dollars on discretionary festivals should remain a priority,” Cr Zilani said.
“Our priority should be delivering essential services, maintaining infrastructure and managing ratepayers’ money responsibly.
“At a time when our residents are being asked to tighten their belts, I believe the city must also be prepared to tighten its own belt.”
City director of strategy and economic development James Campbell-Sloan said the $60,000 intended for Scribblers was existing funding that had been rolled over.
“We would be looking to commit the existing funding elsewhere if not on the festival, but among all the options that we’ve considered, this one presents the largest benefits,” he said.
City director of place and community Jude Thomas said moving the Readers and Writers Festival to July gave the city an opportunity to work with businesses throughout the city rather than just in the city centre.
It has been held at Seashells Resort since 2020.
“We’re hoping it gives us an opportunity to activate places like the Dawesville Community Centre and north, possibly Lakelands as well,” Ms Thomas said. “We haven’t got a program worked out yet, but we will look to make a variety of different venues available.”
Cr Ryan Burns questioned how the economic benefits expected from the events were calculated and if it was something local government should be involved with.
“I’m hardly surprised that a government-funded organisation established to promote the arts has produced research highlighting the benefit of the arts,” he said.
“I suspect its employees are reasonably enthusiastic about continued funding for the sector. Their own jobs depend on it, after all.
“Every dollar committed here is a dollar unavailable for essential services, infrastructure renewal and reducing the burden on ratepayers.”
Cr Dave Schumacher said he could see the benefits of the festival but did not believe it was a priority for ratepayers.
Deputy mayor Jess Smith argued the event was in line with the city’s strategic plan.
“This provides an opportunity to offer more indoor activities during the cooler months and address the noticeable gap in Mandurah’s winter events calendar,” she said.
“And I can see real value in the proposed partnership with FORM’s Scribblers Festival, which would strengthen connection with schools, and encourage engagement not only during, but before and after the main event.
“The complementary activities such as ice skating and other city centre activations would create a welcoming, family friendly atmosphere while also creating a strong literary and cultural focus.
“The giants of Mandurah created $81m in direct economic impact for local business in the first 12 months. It might be worth being bold again.”
Cr Shannon Wright said the more the city could engage people with literacy, the better.
“For me, getting involved in writing is one of the most creative things a person can do,” he said. “And it’s certainly going to become a lost art if we don’t make sure that we protect writing in the face of what AI is bringing to the equation these days.”
Cr Peter Jackson said “tightening the belt” was just a short-term solution.
“If you keep tightening your belt, you’re going to strangle yourself,” he said.
“We decided a few years ago now we want to lift our local economy because there’s no future in tightening our belt.
“Yes, it is spending money at a time where people are feeling they could do with a few more dollars in their pocket, but if we don’t, then there’s going to be more people feeling that.”
