Destination Docklands awaits funding decision

Destination Docklands awaits funding decision

The future of Destination Docklands rests on Council’s 2013-14 budget deliberations.

Destination Docklands presented a three-year funding proposal to the Future Melbourne committee on March 12.

Councillors agreed to note the funding proposal and referred it to the budget deliberations.

But Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and councillor Stephen Mayne said Places Victoria should match council funding.

When asked about the likelihood of Places Victoria committing to further funding Destination Docklands CEO Anita Donnelly said it was unlikely.

Docklands News understands Places Victoria is unable to commit further funding, to Destination Docklands.

The council, Places Victoria and various Docklands stakeholders have funded the organisation since its inception in 2009.

Destination Docklands originally had a three-year agreement with council of $50,000 per annum, which expired on June 30 last year.

Council then agreed to a further one-year funding agreement of $100,000 of core funding and $100,000 for event activation on the condition that Places Victoria matched the core funding amount.

The agreement expires on June 30 this year and in the new funding proposal Destination Docklands has requested $250,000 for core marketing and $100,000 for event activation per year for the next three years.

Ms Donnelly said the three-year funding plan would allow long-term planning, vision and growth.

A drawback of the one-year funding agreement was that the organisation was focused on the requirements of the 12- month agreement rather than taking an extended view of the long-term needs of Docklands.

According to Ms Donnelly a three-year funding agreement with council would allow long-term planning, vision and growth and would be enticing to other funding partners.

Ms Donnelly also said the agreement would enable the organisation to become a sustainable business model that by 2016 would no longer require government funding.

If Destination Docklands receives the full amount of funding requested it is likely two additional staff will be hired, including a full-time business development role and an events assistant.  

Ms Donnelly said council would advise if the funding proposal had been approved at the end of April.

Join Our Facebook Group