NSW Labor say that, if elected to Government in March 2023 they will will commit $600 000 over 3 years to help grow the Narooma Oyster Festival into one of Regional NSW biggest Tourism events. The Narooma Oyster Festival is one of the biggest communities led festivals on the NSW South Coast and has been running for 15 years, with over 9000 people attending the event last year.
The festival has grown to a size where volunteers now struggle to be able to grow the event larger.
The $600 000 commitment will go towards the following programs
$270 000 over 3 years to employ a full-time coordinator and marketing manager for the festival
$180 000 over 3 years to lease a premises for an office space and marketing/information/produce/souvenir location
$150 000 over 3 years to support the growth event (advertising/logistical support/entertainment)
David Harris Shadow Minister for Jobs, Investment and Tourism says "This support will enable the Narooma Oyster festival to become a regional flagship event for the far South Coast region.
“The festival celebrates South Coast NSW Oyster and Local slow food movement and is an excellent opportunity to showcase the magnificent Tourism and Agricultural opportunities creating a flagship event to attract both national and International visitors.
NSW Labor understands the economic value to communities of this type of event and recognises through this funding the logistical complexities of running large scale events in regional communities.”
Dr Michael Holland, Member for Bega said of the announcement “The Narooma Oyster Festival is an iconic South Coast event that injects millions of dollars into our local economy over just one weekend. A truly homegrown festival celebrating our world-class produce.”
“As a Regional Flagship Event, the Narooma Oyster Festival will be able to plan ahead with a dedicated staff and the security of continued funding.”
“I’m so pleased NSW Labor are able to support such a grassroots event and recognise the importance of supporting regional communities like Narooma.”
Cath Peachey, Chair of Narooma Rocks which delivers the Narooma Oyster Festival said of the commitment, if Labor are elected to government "Regional NSW towns like Narooma rely on events to drive visitation in the off-season, particularly when all the hospitality businesses and smaller businesses need a boost around winter - it helps to ensure local jobs can be retained and the regional economy can continue to grow."
"Delivering events in the regions brings significant logistical and cost challenges, which is why the delivery of these events fall to passionate community organisations like Narooma Rocks."
"This funding announcement provides certainty for the future of the Narooma Oyster Festival
""The iconic Narooma Oyster festival is southern NSW's largest event and showcases rock oyster, which is indigenous to NSW, as well as all that is good about the South Coast."
"The festival is really a celebration of the Rock Oyster and the South Coast. We have been celebrating that for 15 years now, it was an initiative of the Narooma Chamber of Commerce and it has grown in scale from a small community event to Southern NSW's largest food and wine event."
"People come for the Rock Oysters, which taste different from one estuary to the next, to talk to the farmers and to experience the beautiful South Coast."
"The farmers are really proud to showcase their wonderful product and they love the opportunity to get together at Narooma each year to speak directly with oyster lovers and join in the competitions for the biggest oyster and champion shucker."
"Having a freshly shucked oyster is a real experience that most people don't have the opportunity to enjoy, and we believe everyone should have the opportunity to learn how to open oysters and appreciate the differences in merroir - it's a real life skill!"
