The Narooma Chamber of Commerce has been granted $20,000 from Eurobodalla Council to support the event management and administration of the 2019 Narooma Oyster Festival. This is an additional $10,000 on top of the $10,000 provided by Council for the 2018 event. The funding was requested to specifically engage a professional event manager/management company to help grow and strategically place the event as a hallmark event for Eurobodalla, and to attract greater Destination NSW funding. The report to Eurobodalla Council for their meeting on Tuesday December 11th,2018 stated: "The aim is to not only reduce the burden on the volunteer Committee but also to provide the professional expertise required to take the event to the next level to support jobs growth and economic return to the local economy. "The Narooma Oyster Festival is a key driver of the Eurobodalla visitor economy. It is estimated that the 2018 event contributed $700,000 to the local economy and has the potential to achieve additional economic growth if its growth is further supported." Reaching this potential as Eurobodalla’s signature event is now beyond the capacity of the volunteer organising committee and the small event management outfit currently employed. "To be eligible for the DNSW Event Development Support ($50,000), and to expand the festival into a Shire-wide event, greater professional support and experience is required to strategically plan and grow the event over the next year. The organising committee has prepared an expanded scope of works to seek responses from event management specialists." The recommendation was put forward by Council staff is that Council supporting the allocation of $20,000 to support the Narooma Oyster Festival event for 2019.
