28 May 2021
Regional events boosted by $230k funding
Regional events will benefit from $230k following Southern Downs Regional Council’s approval of thirteen Local Events Funding Program (LEFP) Round Two 2021 grants at the Ordinary Meeting on 26 May 2021.
The objectives of the LEFP program is to develop high quality, innovative products, events and experiences that strengthen the Southern Downs and Granite Belt events calendar, generate local and visitor economic activity in the region, attract external visitation to the destination and enhance the profile and appeal of the region as a destination.
The LEFP assessment panel included representatives from Council, Southern Queensland Country Tourism and Council officers. Applications were scored based on criteria set by Council as well as LEFP Guidelines set by Council.
Southern Downs Councillor Marco Gliori was encouraged by the quality of the funding submissions and said he looked forward to attending a number of the events in the future.
“The support from this funding enables us to facilitate a strong calendar of events that underpins the strategic work we are doing to help local businesses and event organisers recover from the 2019 Bushfires,” Councillor Gliori said.
“Council recently signed the Queensland Small Business Friendly Councils Charter and supporting local events is a major contributor to supporting small businesses, as the flow-on effect of successful events is invaluable to regional communities.”
“As a regular attendee of events in the region, I look forward to being a patron at one of these on the LEFP Round Two list.”
Successful events include the Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), 2021 Snowflakes in Stanthorpe, 2021 Jumpers and Jazz in July, 2021 Historic Leyburn Sprints, the Warwick Highland Gathering (Warwick Caledonian Society), 2021 Killarney Bonfire Night, 2021 Shakespeare under the Stars, Queensland Motorists Re-Enactment Weekend 2021, 2021 Warwick Rodeo and Gold Cup Campdraft - Live Entertainment, South East Queensland Ulysses Club 2022 National, Gap Creek Moto’s Spring Sounds, Granite Belt Weddings & Events’ Berries n Brews, and funding to develop a Strategic Plan for the Warwick Thistle Pipe Band.
LEFP is a temporary funding program jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments as a component of the 2019 Queensland Bushfires Community Recovery Package under Category C of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Find the full list of recipients here (PDF 298.7KB)