Councillors unanimously support increased festival spend

This will see Shoalhaven City Council commit $15,000 to the event, on top of waiving a $2000 Ulladulla Civic Centre hire fee. 

The decision was made at an ordinary council meeting in Nowra on February 6. Councillors Andrew Guile and Annette Alldrick.

Held each year on Easter Sunday, the festival sees several themed floats travel down the Princes Highway, before a celebration at Ulladulla Harbour, where the fishing fleet is blessing for a safe year of good catches. 

A council report stated the festival costs The Rotary Club of Milton Ulladulla more than $94,000 to run. 

“The Rotary Club has steadily lost money over the past three years and lost $11,000 in 2017,” the report said. 

“The festival itself costs over $94,000 to put together, with some funds coming back through the princess ball, stall holders and a jumping castle.

“There is some risk to the 2018 event if sufficient funding cannot be sourced to cover the costs.”

The annual street festival began in 1956 and attracts more than 10,000 people to the district each Easter Sunday. 

A breakdown of the event’s costs given to the council shows in 2017 the biggest spend was $16,250 on traffic control and community stands.

Crowdfunding for the festival was started in 2017 and organisers have contacted businesses in the region asking for sponsorship. 

To donate to the Blessing of Fleet crowdfunding campaign visit Horizon Credit Union or make a transfer using your online banking. 

BSB: 802 124. Account number: 106 513

Name: Rotary Club of Milton Ulladulla Blessing of the Fleet

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