The UIA executive committee
The United Indian Associations (UIA) has approached Blacktown Council for a reimbursement of the hire fees it paid the council to use the Blacktown International Sportspark for the India-Australia Friendship fair held in August. The UIA paid Blacktown Venue Management a hire fee of $6,100 for use of the venue. The association has indicated to the council that it plans to use the same venue for the India-Australia Friendship fair in August 2015.
Blacktown Councillor Susai Benjamin requested the council, on behalf of the UIA, to reimburse the funds. The council discussed the matter on 17 September and has requested the UIA to provide additional documentation. The Indian Sun has learnt that the UIA’s audited financial records will be crucial in the discussions for a reimbursement or subsidy.
Blacktown council’s new mayor Councillor Stephen Bali has also invited the UIA to meet with him to discuss this matter as well as the possibility of any partnership for the future. Speaking to this reporter on the phone, Councillor Bali said that he was impressed with UIA’s past management of this event, though he was aware that attendance at the event has been declining in recent years. Councillor Bali said that for any association to seek local government funding sound financial governance is a must, and this can only be verified through records of an association’s past. According to the mayor, while the council is keen to have an umbrella organisation of the Indian community bring its flagship event to the area, the council would rather have the association manage such events with its own funds. Mayor Bali and other councillors this reporter spoke to are concerned that it may be hard to justify public money for events organised by community and cultural associations.
UIA president John Kennedy says that the association had sought a partnership with the Blacktown Council earlier this year. But council officials say that they require at least 12 months’ notice to consider any partnerships with local associations. Mayor Bali is of the view that if the India-Australia fair attracts large numbers of people the Blacktown Sportspark may not be the right place for the event, as the venue does not have the facilities for events of a certain scale.
Due to heavy rains on the day, the UIA’s 2014 Fair reportedly had the lowest attendance ever in the fair’s history. The UIA had originally planned for a ticketed event but the low turnout and the rains forced the organisers to make entry free. Although the fair had an impressive list of dignitaries like the premier of NSW, Minister Victor Dominello, leader of Opposition John Robertson, federal MP for Parramatta Julie Owens, MP Guy Zangari, federal MP for Greenway Michelle Rowland and Blacktown councillors Benjamin, Donaldson and Bali, owing to the rains there was a lower turn-out than was expected. The Indian high commissioner Biren Nanda and Sydney Consul General Sunjay Sudhir also attended the fair.
Blacktown council is concerned that granting the UIA’s request may set a precedent encouraging other community associations to seek funds from the local government for their public events. Councillor Benjamin feels that as the UIA plans to have its next fair at the same venue there is a case to reimburse the money to the association.
Blacktown’s Councillor Karlo Siljeg says that associations seeking government funding should be aware of the procedures involved and the limitations. This would help them plan their events better and make a better case for official support, he feels.
According to Mayor Bali, while it would be great for Blacktown to have a big Indian fair there is a need to discuss its feasibility both in terms of the ability of the organisers and the venues available.
Published in The Indian Sun, Sydney
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