TAMWORTH councillors say spending nearly $24,000 to send a representative to Nashville to promote the annual country music festival is a small price to pay for the $60m boost the festival brings to the local economy each year.
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Council approved the move at a meeting on Tuesday night, with councillors vigorously defending the decision.
Mayor Col Murray said “there wouldn’t be a local government anywhere in the world that would not give their right arm or crown jewels to have ownership of this festival”.
TRC business and community director John Sommerlad, who will travel to Nashville on June 3 and return on June 17, said the festival cost the Tamworth Regional community $400,000 each year to stage.
“The festival costs council $1.9 million to stage each year and the festival attracts $1.5 million in revenue through sponsorship and various other means,” Mr Sommerlad said.
“In return, the festival delivers about $60 million worth of economic benefit to the local economy.”
Along with promoting the festival, Mr Sommerland will also attend a number of meeting about the further development of Tamworth’s country music brand and economic development initiatives.
Cr James Treloar said the festival faced huge challenges, particularly from the CMC Rocks Queensland festival in Ipswich, which may significantly reduce the number of central Queensland festival- goers to Tamworth.
He requested Mr Sommerlad investigate international talent to perform at future festivals.
“If we fill our TRECC with international stars, that could potential increase international visitations,” Cr Treloar said.
Cr Murray said Tamworth was getting “quite a number” of tour groups from the United States from the marketing stand at Nashville’s Fan Fair X.
“This is part of a much larger program and a much larger strategy that will build over time,” Cr Murray said.
“We’re not going to see this city overrun by American tourists, but the strategy is starting to deliver and they’re starting to bite.”
Cr Helen Tickle said Tamworth’s sister city agreement with Nashville, which was signed three years ago, was the envy of many cities.
“We’ve already learnt so much from Nashville – they have built their economy on country music and they use that to promote other aspects of their city,” Cr Tickle said.
Mr Sommerlad will be home hosted by a sister city representative, so there will be no accommodation costs.
About 85 per cent of the cost will go towards hiring the Fan Fair X stand and producing advertising material.
