8 January 2012

Summernats to return in 2013

| johnboy
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Chief Minister Gallagher is letting us know she’s thrilled by news Summernats have exercised their option to return to Exhibition Park next year.

The event organisers, Out There Productions, have taken an option on their current two year contract to extend the event at EPIC for one more year.

The ACT Government has been a strong supporter of Summernats and has provided $105,000 over three years through the Events Assistance Program for business development, marketing and promotion of the event.

Organisers are confident that this year’s event has seen an increase in crowd numbers, however the swell in attendance has not seen an increase in any trouble, with ACT Police happy with behaviour overall.

“The ACT Government has been working closely with the Summernats organisers to assist with this year’s event and the return of the modified and very successful City Cruise down Northbourne Ave is another example of this partnership,” the Chief Minister said.

“I look forward to working with Summernats organisers over the coming months to make sure the festival remains a feature of the Canberra holiday season.”

Kind of blows the negotiating position out of the water.

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BelcoMan said :

@”thats not me”

1. That is clear
2.Sponsorship – Open your Eyes – By the Government propping up this event, every business in Canberra pays for it as a form of pseudo-sponsorship – Why? why do businesses who receive no benefit from it pay? Keep it local.

No, every person and business who pays any form of tax is paying for it actually, not just businesses. If you accept your argument that we’re all paying some form of ‘sponsorship’ for the event, then we’re actually each paying less than 20 cents.

And as I keep on saying, Canberra as a whole does benefit indirectly from this event. If the ACT Government raises more in revenue than they are paying to support the event, then the government then has more money to supply services to ALL Canberrans – not just those who receive a direct benefit from the event. I’m really not sure why this is such a hard argument to grasp.

BelcoMan said :

3. It is currently impossible to determine what other events may come to town because they can’t. It is clear the ACT Tourism can not go out and market this as an event destination whilst this event is still ongoing.

That argument holds true for each and every large event that comes to town. The only difference here is that you have a dislike of Summernats, so you think it’s a bigger issue than it actually is.

And why couldn’t other events run in conjunction with Summernats? If ACT Tourism was worried at a lack of other events, surely there would be scope for them to sound out other operators who may appeal to a similar crowd as Summernats, and have them try to capture some of the market that’s already here?

I ask you again – what other events do you think may successfully run in the early January time period, while half of Canberra is out of town, and half of Australia is on holidays – likely somewhere with a beach as well? Saying ‘we can’t determine that because Summernats is on’ is a cop out – give me some of your ideas. You must have some, if you’re so worried about it?

BelcoMan said :

4. please feel free tosbow me where Summernats is complying with the “Equal opportunity for women” Act, Safe workplace Act, environmental sustainability etc. I don’t expect them to have more red tape, I merely expect that they ahould have to conform as every other event does (But I’m sure I already said that!)

Of course I can’t – I’m in no way associated with the event. How about you show me where they aren’t complying with the relevant legislation? Again, if you’re so worried about it, you must have some type of knowledge about where they aren’t complying – or are you just tilting at windmills?

Summernats isn’t exactly my cup of tea – never been, likely never will. But I can at least be open minded enough to recognise that financially, it helps Canberra, and that there are a whole lot of interest groups out there that I’ll never understand – but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t exist.

Belcoman,
are you honestly trying to say that an event that brings millions into the ACT economy doesn’t benefity the ACT as a whole?
Sure most businesses don’t directly benefit but the businesses who do benefit will spend their money in the ACT, and so will the places that get that money and so on and so on.

Summernats fills a void in the event calendar for the ACT. Your assertion that we could have other events at this time is a bit silly. Canberrans aren’t going to stay in Canberra at this time of year no matter what is on. Its been that way since before Summernats and will be that way well after Summernats is gone. Our only hope is to attract Interstate visitors which Summernats does.

And you seem to think that Summernats don’t have to follow relevant government legislation. Got any proof?

I’ve never actually been to Summernats but I’ve got no doubt that it benefits our city greatly. The fact that it gets up a certain type of person’s nose is just a bonus, we can’t have flower shows or gallery exhibitions every weekend.

BelcoMan said :

@”thats not me”

1. That is clear
2.Sponsorship – Open your Eyes – By the Government propping up this event, every business in Canberra pays for it as a form of pseudo-sponsorship – Why? why do businesses who receive no benefit from it pay? Keep it local.
3. It is currently impossible to determine what other events may come to town because they can’t. It is clear the ACT Tourism can not go out and market this as an event destination whilst this event is still ongoing.
4. please feel free tosbow me where Summernats is complying with the “Equal opportunity for women” Act, Safe workplace Act, environmental sustainability etc. I don’t expect them to have more red tape, I merely expect that they ahould have to conform as every other event does (But I’m sure I already said that!)

2) No business on Conder (or south of the lake really) gets a benifit from any major event held at Epic, Bruce Saduium or the AIS Arena for that matter. I really dont get how this really bears on your argument about Summernats.

3) The next big event to come to town is the show, what other big event can be on when that is on? It is equally as large with similar logistics. Incidentally, if someone wanted they could run a rock concert at Bruce Sadium, AIS, Commonwealth Park or any number of events in other areas of the city. Again, I dont get how Summernats stops this. Once an event centre is booked than they have exclusive rights to that centre, this is a normal business transaction that is nothing new, it doesnt sop other centres from holding events.

4) OHS & S legislation deals with employers and employees, not patrons. If the Summernats company did not harass and treat their employees with respect then they are abiding by the legislation. As I have stated before, I am not fully aware of the conditions of funding so there may be additional conditions imposed on crowd behavoir but I would imagine they would be forms of crowd control that deal with criminal behavoir such as assault, criminal damage & traffic offences (criminal & not criminal & hence the massive amounts of security).

I think you are just going to have to accept the its here to stay BelcoMan. Yep, it may not have the full social graces of a night at the opera but thats what makes society interesting.

It’s on again next year, most people don’t care about it, many people are for it and a few people against it.

People can bitch all they want but it’s on again next year, which is all that matters really

Okwhatever said :

Ha ha the pedal pushers are out in force on this thread. If you don’t like it, stay inside for the weekend and sulk behind your curtains while you mumble hate about rev heads and toxic smoke (haha what a joke) while others enjoy life. The amount of negative, insulting and intolerant posts on RA makes it look like Canberra is full of d*cks.

Whereas your charming approach to winning people over gives completely the opposite impression.

Ha ha the pedal pushers are out in force on this thread. If you don’t like it, stay inside for the weekend and sulk behind your curtains while you mumble hate about rev heads and toxic smoke (haha what a joke) while others enjoy life. The amount of negative, insulting and intolerant posts on RA makes it look like Canberra is full of d*cks.

@”thats not me”

1. That is clear
2.Sponsorship – Open your Eyes – By the Government propping up this event, every business in Canberra pays for it as a form of pseudo-sponsorship – Why? why do businesses who receive no benefit from it pay? Keep it local.
3. It is currently impossible to determine what other events may come to town because they can’t. It is clear the ACT Tourism can not go out and market this as an event destination whilst this event is still ongoing.
4. please feel free tosbow me where Summernats is complying with the “Equal opportunity for women” Act, Safe workplace Act, environmental sustainability etc. I don’t expect them to have more red tape, I merely expect that they ahould have to conform as every other event does (But I’m sure I already said that!)

Frustrated said :

I dont see any complaints about the previous Carnell Govt spending millions of our dollars on that white elephant called Canberra Stadium, or the money they poor into the Raiders and Brumbies to keep them afloat in this town.

I’d suggest that you’re not reading the posts carefully enough. Raiders, Brumbies, GWS are all for-profit organisations and there have been several posts, including one by me, complaining about for-profit organisations receiving Government support.

Frustrated said :

Although I haven’t attended the Summernats since the mid90s, I cannot see why my tax dollars should be used to prop up two failed RugbyUnion/League clubs.

They shouldn’t.

BelcoMan said :

There are some fundamental points to add to this.

Preface: I do not like what Summernats brings to Canberra and the fact that the Gubment supports a private venture to asist it in making mopre profit.

This much is pretty obvious.

A number of times, people have brought up this being a good event because it comes at a time of year when half of Canberra is away anyway. Is it such a long stretch to suggest that some of them go away because of this event? You aslo need to consider that no event manager/promoter will bring their event to Canberra whilst Summernats is on so it is effectively blocking future opportunities.

Yes, I think it is a long stretch. Sure, I’m sure there are some people who live in the vicinity who may choose to head out of town while Summernats is on, but to suggest that Summernats contributes in any significant way to the hordes of people who leave Canberra around the time it’s on is nothing more than your wishful thinking.

What other events do you think might come to Canberra at the same time if Summernats wasn’t on? How many events that could pull significant crowds to Canberra would seriously attempt to run in the week following New Years? If anything, it would be the fact that accommodation would be hard to find that would cause an events manager to avoid Canberra at that time, not the nature of the competing event.

Please stop with the continual “It’s only one weekend”. Summernats takes control of Epic from around Mid December to Mid January. The actual cars start/participants start arriving the Monday before the event and the clean up continues for at least 1-2 weeks after they are gone.

Why? It’s a fair argument. So what if it takes some time to get Epic set up and then cleaned up afterwards? Again, with the time of year Summernats runs, I seriously doubt there would be many other events running at Epic anyway – that whole half of Canberra being down the coast thing. I think that for most people, any angst caused by Summernats comes when the hordes descent on Canberra to attend the show – and the vast majority are going to be here for at most, a long weekend. What happens at Epic before and afterwards is not going to make a jot of difference to 99% of people.

A couple of people have mentioned sponsorship. Summernats generates over $500,000.00 per year in sponsorship as well as the additional revenue that is generated by all the companies that pay to be there and flog their wares. Quite a substantial income you could say so why can’t the businesses outside the grounds contribute as well? Would it be fair for the businesses in the immediate area to contribute? Surely no one thinks that the Mcdonalds at Conder or Tuggeranong benefit from this event?

Huh? This makes no sense. Exactly how do you think that a business outside the grounds should have to contribute? Are you seriously suggesting that because the local IGA sees a big increase in business simply because of their proximity to the event, that they should be forced to sponsor it? I don’t call that ‘contributing’, I call it a ‘penalty’.

And of course the Maccas in Conder isn’t going to see a benefit from Summernats – but to suggest that an event that runs in a localised area, on the opposite side of the city, should somehow bring a benefit to that business is just ridiculous. Should the Summernats organisers be bringing back Santa for a return visit so that everyone benefits?

All Government run events (Therefore Government funded) are required to have a large number of processes in place to cover all sorts of things. It would be fair to ask where Summernats processes are for Safety, Equal rights for women, Sexual harrasment in the workplace, environmental sustainability etc. Why are they not accountable to the Government that is supporting them when all the Government events are?

Summernats would be required to comply with all government legislation, including EEO, workplace harassment, workplace safety, and so on. They are as accountable as any other business. Are you suggesting that because the ACT Government has spent some money supporting the event (not providing anywhere near the funds it would cost to run, not being involved in actually running it) that they should be subject to more red tape? Personally, I think that if there are already laws in place to cover these things, that should be enough.

BelcoMan said :

There are some fundamental points to add to this.

Preface: I do not like what Summernats brings to Canberra and the fact that the Gubment supports a private venture to asist it in making mopre profit.

A number of times, people have brought up this being a good event because it comes at a time of year when half of Canberra is away anyway. Is it such a long stretch to suggest that some of them go away because of this event? You aslo need to consider that no event manager/promoter will bring their event to Canberra whilst Summernats is on so it is effectively blocking future opportunities.

Please stop with the continual “It’s only one weekend”. Summernats takes control of Epic from around Mid December to Mid January. The actual cars start/participants start arriving the Monday before the event and the clean up continues for at least 1-2 weeks after they are gone.

A couple of people have mentioned sponsorship. Summernats generates over $500,000.00 per year in sponsorship as well as the additional revenue that is generated by all the companies that pay to be there and flog their wares. Quite a substantial income you could say so why can’t the businesses outside the grounds contribute as well? Would it be fair for the businesses in the immediate area to contribute? Surely no one thinks that the Mcdonalds at Conder or Tuggeranong benefit from this event?

All Government run events (Therefore Government funded) are required to have a large number of processes in place to cover all sorts of things. It would be fair to ask where Summernats processes are for Safety, Equal rights for women, Sexual harrasment in the workplace, environmental sustainability etc. Why are they not accountable to the Government that is supporting them when all the Government events are?

I dont see any complaints about the previous Carnell Govt spending millions of our dollars on that white elephant called Canberra Stadium, or the money they poor into the Raiders and Brumbies to keep them afloat in this town.

Although I haven’t attended the Summernats since the mid90s, I cannot see why my tax dollars should be used to prop up two failed RugbyUnion/League clubs.

The Antichrist9:53 pm 09 Jan 12

BelcoMan said :

There are some fundamental points to add to this.

Preface: I do not like what Summernats brings to Canberra and the fact that the Gubment supports a private venture to asist it in making mopre profit

You missed the other fundamental point.

90,000 punters voted with their feet and enjoyed the Wankernats a real lot.

Apparently the culture of appreciating a well-built street car, is absolutely lost on those who think a nice display of photinia robusta is the epitome of kulcha !!

Ok, so we have a few V8’s hitting the streets for a week in January – big deal, its the standard migration season for shinybums to flock down the coast. Suggesting that the Nats force people out of their homes to the beach is patently ridiculous.

Why its almost as ridiculous as suggesting that government funding for local sporting teams is of no benefit to the community.

There are some fundamental points to add to this.

Preface: I do not like what Summernats brings to Canberra and the fact that the Gubment supports a private venture to asist it in making mopre profit.

A number of times, people have brought up this being a good event because it comes at a time of year when half of Canberra is away anyway. Is it such a long stretch to suggest that some of them go away because of this event? You aslo need to consider that no event manager/promoter will bring their event to Canberra whilst Summernats is on so it is effectively blocking future opportunities.

Please stop with the continual “It’s only one weekend”. Summernats takes control of Epic from around Mid December to Mid January. The actual cars start/participants start arriving the Monday before the event and the clean up continues for at least 1-2 weeks after they are gone.

A couple of people have mentioned sponsorship. Summernats generates over $500,000.00 per year in sponsorship as well as the additional revenue that is generated by all the companies that pay to be there and flog their wares. Quite a substantial income you could say so why can’t the businesses outside the grounds contribute as well? Would it be fair for the businesses in the immediate area to contribute? Surely no one thinks that the Mcdonalds at Conder or Tuggeranong benefit from this event?

All Government run events (Therefore Government funded) are required to have a large number of processes in place to cover all sorts of things. It would be fair to ask where Summernats processes are for Safety, Equal rights for women, Sexual harrasment in the workplace, environmental sustainability etc. Why are they not accountable to the Government that is supporting them when all the Government events are?

Watson said :

It’s really, really, really not my thing and the noise is obnoxiously loud from my backyard, I didn’t like having to wait ages at the register of our local IGA while the SN punters paid for their grog – but was glad a local business was profiting, and I was quite shocked when I went to our fave dog walking spot and had to decide to just turn back because the smog was so thick and toxic. But live and let live, hey… And I actually didn’t see or hear any hooning in our local streets at all this year.

Though that toxic smoke thing… I would not subject my lungs to it for even 20 minutes, let alone that I would take my young child to breath that in for a day.

A queue at the IGA?

Call in an air strike to eradicate them an a whambulance for yourself.

I hope you bought some cheese to accompany your whine

qbngeek said :

thatsnotme said :

Keep in mind the fact that the $105k figure mentioned is over 3 years, not per annum. I don’t know whether that $35k per year truly makes a difference when it comes to Summernats deciding to stick with Canberra, or head elsewhere, but we’re not talking about the difference between shutting down a school or not…it’s not money that could add another nurse, or hospital bed, or any of the other multitude of things that the hand wringing brigade like to bring up.

$105k may not add another hospital bed, however it would pay for approx 500 underprivaleged kids to play soccer or football (including the cost of boots) becuase their parents can’t afford the ever increasing fees. I can tell you know that we (barely) manage to run an archery club on $2500-3000 per year. We also provide free services to archers, cater for the disabled and assist young people to become involved in sport. Summernats does none of that, it exists purely to make money.

My complaint is not with the ACT Council providing money to an event. It is that it is providing money to an event that is wholly owned by a private company who are in it to make a profit. Last time I checked Floriade had free entry and the event was not owned by a private business. I have issues with many other private companies who get susidised such as the NRL/AFL/Union teams. All that money would do much more good in the community.

I get what you’re saying – but my thoughts are that if by providing a (relatively) small amount of money to a for-profit event, that a government can help ensure that millions of dollars are bought into the ACT economy, then the net benefit will end providing a greater benefit.

Let’s say that the ACT makes $200k from Summernats, through taxes and charges that local businesses who benefit from Summernats pay (all completely made up numbers here, I’ve got no idea what the actual numbers may be). They now have $165,000 additional revenue, that could be used to fund schools, hospitals, sporting teams etc. I just don’t see how the ‘they’re for profit, they shouldn’t get government support’ argument stacks up when the net benefit for the government (and then the ACT as a whole) is positive.

If the ACT government invested $35k on the stock exchange, and made a large profit on that investment, we’d be patting them on the back. How is this so different?

bikhet said :

KB1971 said :

@ Bikhet – Why is it wrong? I am just saying that every organiseation should get a go if they meet the critera for funding. People are saying Summernats should not get it because of the bogans, hell, Cricket has been trying to control its idiots for years…………

I don’t have a problem with Summernats – or AFL, NRL, whatever for that matter. I do have a problem with for-profit events being subsidised from the public purse.

The funding criteria should be changed – not to discriminate against Summernats, but to ensure that Government funding goes on goods and services that should properly be delivered by Government. See qbngeek’s post for example.

Yah, I have to agree with that. Non for profit orgs should get it & get it easily but then that is a completely different argument I guess.

It sucks that qbngeeks club struggles but then maybe they need to apply a different tact. I am not fully familiar with government funding policies but maybe if its approached differently then they may have more success.

Having said that, there is politics involved. A small archery club in Quangers that 30 people know about is nowhere near as sexy as the Summernats that gets nationwide (possibly international as well) attention every year.

KB1971 said :

@ Bikhet – Why is it wrong? I am just saying that every organiseation should get a go if they meet the critera for funding. People are saying Summernats should not get it because of the bogans, hell, Cricket has been trying to control its idiots for years…………

I don’t have a problem with Summernats – or AFL, NRL, whatever for that matter. I do have a problem with for-profit events being subsidised from the public purse.

The funding criteria should be changed – not to discriminate against Summernats, but to ensure that Government funding goes on goods and services that should properly be delivered by Government. See qbngeek’s post for example.

qbngeek said :

I personally don’t think that a cruise down Northbourne and some 12-15 year olds with ‘Tits Out’ signs is enough return on investment. I think we get more from Owl/Penis scupltures, at least they leave us with something permanent.

It’s a cultural ‘experience’ for the 90 000 people that went to Summernats. Some may have enjoyed the experience and other may hagve not. Just like those that attend Floriade or watch the Raiders and Brumbies get flogged each week.

johnboy said :

daddy said :

So we can then assume that every dollar the gov spends needs to directly benefit every member of the community. No need to build any new suburbs then as I already have a house.

A particularly poor analogy as the government makes money from land release.

They can stop with the cycle lanes, I walk or drive to work.

Felix the Cat2:31 pm 09 Jan 12

watto23 said :

The ACT government will endorse summernats, but couldn’t be bothered with a much higher profile event like the V8 supercar race….
I should not be surprised I guess.

The V8 supercars were far more disruptive with several streets blocked off in the Parliamentry Triangle so the NIMBYs didn’t like it plus it was held in the middle of winter therefore attendances were down. The Summernats is held in the warmer weather and for the most part is contained within EPIC so less disruptive to the general public plus it has more add-on events like rock concerts and Miss Summernats competitions and so is a bigger event (but has been going 25 years so has evolved).

The only similarity is they are both motorsport related, they are quite different events; like comparing a Bonsai show to Floriade.

johnboy said :

johny said :

Wow the government gave summernats $100,000 and it was predicted to pump 1.5 to 2 million back into the local economy. Sounds like a government made a good investment with its funding.

A great investment if you’re one of the businesses specifically benefitting, a pretty lousy one for everyone else.

Only if those businesses hide it under their mattresses and don’t feed it into the territory’s economy.

johnboy said :

johny said :

Wow the government gave summernats $100,000 and it was predicted to pump 1.5 to 2 million back into the local economy. Sounds like a government made a good investment with its funding.

A great investment if you’re one of the businesses specifically benefitting, a pretty lousy one for everyone else.

Except for those locals who work for said businesses and any local suppliers of goods and/or services to said businesses and the businesses where these employees and suppliers spend their money…. et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

The timeless impression that giant cocks live amongst us.

AG Canberra said :

Sorry – my use of the term ‘investment’ was not in the financial sense but in the cultural sense.

If we start down the path of doing cost benefit analysis for every gov grant then nothing will ever be handed out (and the Raiders, Brumbies, Capitals, and Canberra United will quickly find themselves broke.)

So what did we get for our ‘culteral investment’ of $105k? You can’t use the figures of what was apparently injected into the local economy as you have said it is cultural not financial. So now I want to know how Summernats 2012 has improved our culture?

I personally don’t think that a cruise down Northbourne and some 12-15 year olds with ‘Tits Out’ signs is enough return on investment. I think we get more from Owl/Penis scupltures, at least they leave us with something permanent.

thatsnotme said :

Keep in mind the fact that the $105k figure mentioned is over 3 years, not per annum. I don’t know whether that $35k per year truly makes a difference when it comes to Summernats deciding to stick with Canberra, or head elsewhere, but we’re not talking about the difference between shutting down a school or not…it’s not money that could add another nurse, or hospital bed, or any of the other multitude of things that the hand wringing brigade like to bring up.

$105k may not add another hospital bed, however it would pay for approx 500 underprivaleged kids to play soccer or football (including the cost of boots) becuase their parents can’t afford the ever increasing fees. I can tell you know that we (barely) manage to run an archery club on $2500-3000 per year. We also provide free services to archers, cater for the disabled and assist young people to become involved in sport. Summernats does none of that, it exists purely to make money.

My complaint is not with the ACT Council providing money to an event. It is that it is providing money to an event that is wholly owned by a private company who are in it to make a profit. Last time I checked Floriade had free entry and the event was not owned by a private business. I have issues with many other private companies who get susidised such as the NRL/AFL/Union teams. All that money would do much more good in the community.

johnboy said :

johny said :

Wow the government gave summernats $100,000 and it was predicted to pump 1.5 to 2 million back into the local economy. Sounds like a government made a good investment with its funding.

A great investment if you’re one of the businesses specifically benefitting, a pretty lousy one for everyone else.

+1

johnboy said :

johny said :

Wow the government gave summernats $100,000 and it was predicted to pump 1.5 to 2 million back into the local economy. Sounds like a government made a good investment with its funding.

A great investment if you’re one of the businesses specifically benefitting, a pretty lousy one for everyone else.

Sorry – my use of the term ‘investment’ was not in the financial sense but in the cultural sense.

If we start down the path of doing cost benefit analysis for every gov grant then nothing will ever be handed out (and the Raiders, Brumbies, Capitals, and Canberra United will quickly find themselves broke.)

Keep in mind the fact that the $105k figure mentioned is over 3 years, not per annum. I don’t know whether that $35k per year truly makes a difference when it comes to Summernats deciding to stick with Canberra, or head elsewhere, but we’re not talking about the difference between shutting down a school or not…it’s not money that could add another nurse, or hospital bed, or any of the other multitude of things that the hand wringing brigade like to bring up.

If the government wants to spend that amount of money on an event that benefits the local economy by millions of dollars, then good on them. If you’re so worried about $35k a year, why not try to convince them to give up a couple of government funded cars, or reduce government waste, instead of pulling support for an event that while not everyone’s cup of tea, undoubtedly brings money into Canberra at a time when the locals are off spending theirs down the coast.

johny said :

Wow the government gave summernats $100,000 and it was predicted to pump 1.5 to 2 million back into the local economy. Sounds like a government made a good investment with its funding.

Actually the figures I’ve seen estimate between $12 and $15 million dollars injected into the local economy for each event. Suggesting the Government should find and distribute that kind of cash to local businesses rather than pitch $100k at Summernats is absurd.

Sadly the ‘nats is battling a bad reputation, but I have confidence that the new owners are slowly turning things around. The willingness of patrons to accept change is their biggest obstacle.

daddy said :

So we can then assume that every dollar the gov spends needs to directly benefit every member of the community. No need to build any new suburbs then as I already have a house.

A particularly poor analogy as the government makes money from land release.

johnboy said :

johny said :

Wow the government gave summernats $100,000 and it was predicted to pump 1.5 to 2 million back into the local economy. Sounds like a government made a good investment with its funding.

A great investment if you’re one of the businesses specifically benefitting, a pretty lousy one for everyone else.

So we can then assume that every dollar the gov spends needs to directly benefit every member of the community. No need to build any new suburbs then as I already have a house.

johny said :

Wow the government gave summernats $100,000 and it was predicted to pump 1.5 to 2 million back into the local economy. Sounds like a government made a good investment with its funding.

A great investment if you’re one of the businesses specifically benefitting, a pretty lousy one for everyone else.

Wow the government gave summernats $100,000 and it was predicted to pump 1.5 to 2 million back into the local economy. Sounds like a government made a good investment with its funding.

If the justification for gov’t funding of an ostensibly profit-making event is that local businesses benefit from the increased custom…. um wouldn’t it be cheaper and more efficient for the gov’t to wander around dishing money straight to the businesses, rather than having to do it via the rather more complicated route of Summernats?

AG Canberra said :

Providing some funding to Summernats, Floriade, the Raiders, Brumbies or GWS is something governments should do. They should also support artistic endeavours and other social events.

The key thing is to ensure that the provision of that cash assists in providing the residents of (and visitors to) Canberra with a diverse range of events, activities and experiences. Not all of us will go to everything on offer. But it is important for communities to have a broad range of things to do, see and experience.

$100k for an event that gets 90 000 people through the gate is probably not a bad investment whatever that event may be.

Absolutely. Its cheap compared to the V8 Supercars.

I really dont have a big problem with events like Floriade, each to their own. It the haters who stand up & ridicule events that dont suit them that get on my goat.

The new owners are trying to change the event, Rome wasn’t built in a day, give them a break.

@ Bikhet – Why is it wrong? I am just saying that every organiseation should get a go if they meet the critera for funding. People are saying Summernats should not get it because of the bogans, hell, Cricket has been trying to control its idiots for years…………

It’s really, really, really not my thing and the noise is obnoxiously loud from my backyard, I didn’t like having to wait ages at the register of our local IGA while the SN punters paid for their grog – but was glad a local business was profiting, and I was quite shocked when I went to our fave dog walking spot and had to decide to just turn back because the smog was so thick and toxic. But live and let live, hey… And I actually didn’t see or hear any hooning in our local streets at all this year.

Though that toxic smoke thing… I would not subject my lungs to it for even 20 minutes, let alone that I would take my young child to breath that in for a day.

KB1971 said :

qbngeek said :

Can I just ask why the government is providing money to a for-profit business to run this when there a myriad of other issues that would be better funded. Junior sport, homelessness ($105k could pay rent for a family for 3-4 years), pedestrian awareness campaign.

If the bogans want Summernats, they can pay. If it brings in money for the local economy then the businesses that make money off it can sponsor it. I am willing to bet the hotels/motels in Canberra made more than $105k in profit in one year from Summernats.

Where have you been? Belco Man has been whinging about all of this last week in the other Summernats thread.

Summernats isnt the only profitable sporting (& I use that term loosely) organiseation that recieves funding. You mention football, bothe NRL & AFL locally have recieved funding but their backyards are definately not squeaky clean.

At least there seems to be a slight turn around towards motoring events form the days of Jon Stanhope, at least Katie seems to want to promote a large motoring event rather that shut it down ala V8 Supercars.

Its a pity the ROC cant get better event locations other than Kowen.

I personally disagree that Floriade is wholley government funded but as I said in the other thread, I dont get on here & piss & moan about just because it something I dont want to do.

The AFL, NRL etc shouldn’t receive government funding either. Two, or more, wrongs don’t make a right.

Providing some funding to Summernats, Floriade, the Raiders, Brumbies or GWS is something governments should do. They should also support artistic endeavours and other social events.

The key thing is to ensure that the provision of that cash assists in providing the residents of (and visitors to) Canberra with a diverse range of events, activities and experiences. Not all of us will go to everything on offer. But it is important for communities to have a broad range of things to do, see and experience.

$100k for an event that gets 90 000 people through the gate is probably not a bad investment whatever that event may be.

Eppo said :

KB1971 said :

I personally disagree that Floriade is wholley government funded but as I said in the other thread, I dont get on here & piss & moan about just because it something I dont want to do.

I don’t think people ‘piss and moan’ because it’s not something that interests them. More that government funding goes to an event where this sort of behaviour is acceptable: http://the-riotact.com/tits-out-request-from-15yr-olds-with-poll/63180#comments

NRL, AFL etc may not have clean backyards, but I’m yet to see a sign like that out at a Brumbies match.

I guess you haven’t been listening to the crowd too closely then have you. I didnt know government funding and morality was so closely linked.

And Im pretty sure it’s exactly why they piss and moan about. Like a whole weekend is such a blight on their existence.

KB1971 – yep, Stanhope Govt seemed to have a hatred of motorsport closing down every venue possible.

This year’s seemed relatively innocuous. The hoon quotient increased by a couple of notches but, compared to previous years, it didn’t seem too bad.

KB1971 said :

I personally disagree that Floriade is wholley government funded but as I said in the other thread, I dont get on here & piss & moan about just because it something I dont want to do.

I don’t think people ‘piss and moan’ because it’s not something that interests them. More that government funding goes to an event where this sort of behaviour is acceptable: http://the-riotact.com/tits-out-request-from-15yr-olds-with-poll/63180#comments

NRL, AFL etc may not have clean backyards, but I’m yet to see a sign like that out at a Brumbies match.

qbngeek said :

Can I just ask why the government is providing money to a for-profit business to run this when there a myriad of other issues that would be better funded. Junior sport, homelessness ($105k could pay rent for a family for 3-4 years), pedestrian awareness campaign.

If the bogans want Summernats, they can pay. If it brings in money for the local economy then the businesses that make money off it can sponsor it. I am willing to bet the hotels/motels in Canberra made more than $105k in profit in one year from Summernats.

Where have you been? Belco Man has been whinging about all of this last week in the other Summernats thread.

Summernats isnt the only profitable sporting (& I use that term loosely) organiseation that recieves funding. You mention football, bothe NRL & AFL locally have recieved funding but their backyards are definately not squeaky clean.

At least there seems to be a slight turn around towards motoring events form the days of Jon Stanhope, at least Katie seems to want to promote a large motoring event rather that shut it down ala V8 Supercars.

Its a pity the ROC cant get better event locations other than Kowen.

I personally disagree that Floriade is wholley government funded but as I said in the other thread, I dont get on here & piss & moan about just because it something I dont want to do.

watto23 said :

The ACT government will endorse summernats, but couldn’t be bothered with a much higher profile event like the V8 supercar race….
I should not be surprised I guess.

There is the little matter that one costs a few hundred k in sponsorship and services, the other no doubt would cost several million.

The ACT government will endorse summernats, but couldn’t be bothered with a much higher profile event like the V8 supercar race….
I should not be surprised I guess.

Can I just ask why the government is providing money to a for-profit business to run this when there a myriad of other issues that would be better funded. Junior sport, homelessness ($105k could pay rent for a family for 3-4 years), pedestrian awareness campaign.

If the bogans want Summernats, they can pay. If it brings in money for the local economy then the businesses that make money off it can sponsor it. I am willing to bet the hotels/motels in Canberra made more than $105k in profit in one year from Summernats.

I had a great time at the Nats on saturday, looking forward to the same again next year.

Yippee – not!

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