The Central Otago District Council has agreed to use reserve funds to help Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust (OGHT) to put on the next cavalcade, in the absence of district-wide promotional monies.

OGHT projects manager Terry Davis told council last week the cancellation of the 2021 cavalcade, which was to have ended in Millers Flat, had been a huge financial blow to the organisation. 

No event insurance was available to cover considerable losses and the group was seeking $10,000 for the rescheduled event.

Council had previously issued one-off financial assistance to events such as WoolOn and had assisted Crankworx outside of grants applications. Work is also underway on a council events strategy for the district which may explore funding other events.

Cr Neil Gillespie said at yesterday’s (Thursday October 6) council meeting that having such matters come to council as one-off requests ensured they were each looked at more rigorously, before monies were given. 

He asked that the OGHT be requested to provide evidence of how the funds had been spent.

Cr Stephen Jefferies believed the group needed to look at the sustainability of running the event and plan for how they would be funding future cavalcades.

The OGHT requested the $10,000 toward event management costs for the 30th Goldfield’s Cavalcade, to be held in February 2023. The total cost of putting on the popular event is $220,472, the group said.

Two wagon and horse riding trails, five horse riding trails, one tramping trail, one walking trail, one running trail and a mountain biking trail are planned, finishing on March 5 in Millers Flat.

After a session reviewing the council’s current financial situation, the $10,000 was approved from general reserve funds.  

Yesterday’s meeting was the final gathering of the council prior to the local body elections taking place this Saturday.