I find it unfortunate the Chairman of the Motorsport Board would call Adelaide City Council’s decision to withdraw $40,000 from a profitable event dripping in private sponsorship opportunities “stupid”. Council will still provide $40,000 in infrastructure costs and lose $35,000 in on street parking revenue; we do support the event, just not with a cash handout.
I’m Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and about to finish my Adelaide University MBA; this training tells me slinging insults is unbecoming of any Chairman, especially for 0.2% (thats 1/5th of 1%!) of the Motorsport budget - an amount Roger Cook described as “neither here nor there”.
This attack shows a lack of understanding of Local Government's role in stimulating the economy; to go where the private sector cannot. Why should council continue to fund profitable big business when we should seed innovation and create new opportunities?
Council has a limited sponsorship budget and significant demands – we support a wide range of events and communities. Start-ups struggle to get private sector funding because big events like Clipsal dominate the market; it is not until an event demonstrates it is worthy of investment/brand collaboration that they get consideration in the marketplace.
Council should be at the cutting edge, creating opportunity to stimulate the economy and communities in ways the private sector cannot. Those funds will now go to activating Hindley Street Laneways during the Fringe, helping the Irish and Lebanese Community get festivals running and reinvigorate the Festival of Ideas. Most of these will happen outside of “Mad March”, a move a majority tell me is much needed.
Being called stupid and suggesting a “backlash” sounds like bullying; certainly promoting a backlash on council is hardly conducive to economic progress. Is Mr. Cook offering solutions or problems to facilitate a diversified and innovative economy where Adelaide, not egos, are the winner?
I’m frustrated harassment is still a part of Adelaide’s way of doing business and hope to be part of an optimistic team that promotes entrepreneurship in small business and communities - we need to stimulate diverse economic opportunities all year round in Adelaide and I am sure Clipsal will be just fine without its Local Government freebee.
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4 comments:
Considering how well the Clipsal does each year and how much impact it has on the surrounding communities while its on, I don't believe that it is fair for the Motorsport Board to be whinging about the removal of $40000 of funding. Whilst I don't agree with some of the decisions that the ACC makes, I believe it has acted appropriately in this instance. Good on the ACC!
Totally agree with the decision from the ACC in this case. I haven't missed a Clipsal 500 event yet and I don't plan on missing one anytime soon. I would love to see the ACC use this money to put on other events for the whole community or expand current ones. A expanded New Years Eve or an Australia Day Concert would benefit from that money I am sure
you say that this money will go elsewhere to much needed activities....does this include the pathetic fake stonehenge in hindmarsh square costing 200K? or the complete waste of money that is the neon lights in rundle st? and you wonder why you are rightly called stupid?
its amazing that other city councils like melb and gold coast pour in monies for their MAJOR event.....little old pissant adelaide ?? nope
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