Ted Egan performs at the Illawarra Folk Festival in 2015. He performed at the festival again, at the age of 91, in 2022. Photo: Graeme Morrison.
The Illawarra Folk Festival became a lightning rod for division between the Greens and Labor councillors at Wollongong City Council’s meeting on Monday (3 February).
Greens councillor Jess Whittaker put forward a motion that the council acknowledge and thank the Illawarra Folk Club for successfully running a volunteer-led festival for the past 40 years, acknowledge the festival relies on affordable access to Bulli Showground and consider ways to support the festival, through the showground upgrades, grant contributions, promotion or in-kind support.
“The energy at the festival is infectious, and many performers have never visited the Illawarra before,” Cr Whittaker said.
“It’s a three-day event but there are also side gigs at pubs in the lead up, local accommodation is booked out, and it brings in about $1.7 million dollars to the local economy each year.
“It’s affordable, family friendly, and the type of event we want in our community.
“It’s been lucky to survive the pandemic and I think it’s worthwhile looking at ways we can future-proof it.”
Concerns for the festival’s future emerged in light of the council’s adoption of the Draft Bulli Showground Masterplan in 2023.
The master plan would include much-needed upgrades for the site, such as a stage, floodlights, an undercover area and consolidated car parking.
Organisers feared the upgrades may result in a higher cost to use the venue, putting it out of reach.
Labor councillor Richard Martin, however, highlighted the fact that any potential upgrades are on hold until NSW Greyhounds, the main user of the site, decides whether they will continue to operate in Bulli, or consolidate at Dapto.
The ongoing discussion around the Bulli bypass has also caused delays in meaningful action at the site.
Cr Martin had concerns about the motion.
“I’ve worked around the world in the entertainment industry for 25 years and I agree the Illawarra Folk Festival is fantastic,” he said.
“But they use the showground maybe 14 days of the year – what about the groups who use it for the rest of the year?
“If we do this, we start a slippery slope for everyone who uses our properties to ask for custom upgrades, and I think the support we already give them is very good.
“I hope the organisers have spoken to the Minister for the Illawarra and the Federal Government about those avenues for support.”
Labor councillor Dan Hayes went a step further.
He said the motion was disingenuous and displayed favouritism.
“It’s partisan treatment of one event for no reason and has the potential to deviate from council processes,” he said.
“I had a great day at the Bulli Beer Festival but I can’t imagine coming to council and asking them to show partisan support.”
He foreshadowed his own motion on the subject.
Councillor Whittaker’s motion was defeated, with Crs Hayes, Martin, Martin, Brown, Morris, Quinn, Campbell, Myers and Lord Mayor Tania Brown voting against it.
Cr Hayes tabled a new motion: that the council congratulate any and all events held at the showground and continue to support those events in the manner they have previously.
“I’m not playing favourites like the previous motion,” he said.
“I’m recognising the hard work of volunteers and acknowledging that while it is the council’s role to support events, we will never have enough to do it all.”
Cr Hayes’ motion was carried unanimously.
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