Sunshine Coast Council is being accused of monopolising the region’s events sector after announcing its annual Christmas carols event would be held the day before a major surf lifesaving fundraiser.

Kawana Carols by the Beach, which is scheduled for December 17, raises much-needed money for the Kawana Surf Life Saving and Kawana Nippers programs.

However, Council recently announced its major carols event for this year, Festive on the Green, will be held on December 16 at Bokarina’s Sunshine Coast Stadium.

This meant thousands of residents would instead be emptying their pockets into the Council event, locals said.

Several locals took to social media to air their grievances including Heath Moore. He said Council had a proven track record of forcing other events away from their own.

“(They) obviously have zero respect for anyone else, even a great community organisation like a nippers club,” he said.

Jennifer Gardner said she was “disappointed” and had decided to ditch the event. She said previous events at the Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens in Tanawha were better.

“It was an adventure for the kids”,” she said. The crowds will be unbearable in a football field on just one day.

“Hope it is a success but I’ll be giving it a miss. Guess it’s all about (the money).”

‘The rot has to stop’

Buskers by the Lake Festival founder Cindy Jensen (main photo) made headlines in July when she made an “integrity-based decision” to cancel her festival’s 10th-anniversary event.

She was also upset with the Christmas clash.

“It’s literally up the road (from the other event). Disgraceful,” she said.

“Council is trying to take over and control the local event and venue sector, and has become the local publicly-funded music mafia.

“Someone needs to hold them accountable. The rot has to stop.” 

Council was recently called out by the music community for favouring musicians for its tax payer-funded Caloundra Music Festival (CMF) line-up.

Musician speaks out

Buderim musician Drew Wilson at the time said he wanted to see an independent body oversee events such as CMF.

“It is a hard pill to swallow to see the same locals getting on the bill of our major music festival just because they or their friends record at a particular studio, or work at a particular shop,” he told YELO last month.

Ms Jensen said she believed CMF was operating at an enormous loss and was “a gross, irresponsible spend of ratepayer dollars”.

Dodgy festival figures?

She also accused Council of fudging the festival’s attendance numbers.

In a press release on October 4, Council said the aggregate attendance of the event was 16,000. However, Ms Jensen volunteered on this year’s festival gates and said she had proof that numbers were significantly lower.

“Only 1946 had checked in by late afternoon on the first day, and there were no processes in place to calculate a true aggregated attendance,” she said.

“I also have photographic evidence from the entry scanners at 6.57pm on the last day, with a total of only 7,464 checking in over the three days.  

“This proves Council’s figure is highly inflated and if attendance numbers are inflated, so too are the event’s associated outcomes.”

Ms Jensen said she was told $636,364 was spent on sound, production and management at the 2017 event. She questioned the procurement and expenditure process.

Council must be accountable

Owner of national events company, Australian Events, Bob Carroll said: “Why are the financial results of the event such a big secret?”

“The (CMF) is held on a long weekend in October when the Coast would be full anyway, and if it was to happen at all, it should be held in off-peak and must be financially viable.

“It’s not only the cost of the event itself but it’s the full-time wages, company cars and all the perks offered to Council staff who run it that aggravates rate payers. 

“Meanwhile, other festivals and community events have to fight tooth and nail for any support.

“The Council’s actions and policies have lead to question whether they are creating an environment conducive to fair competition within the events sector.”

Ms Jensen said she was still waiting to hear answers from Council over the CMF allegations.

Council has been contact for comment.

Sign Cindy Jensen’s petition: https://www.change.org/p/investigate-sunshine-coast-council-for.