By Tyler Wright
After a massive turnout at the Belgrave Lantern Festival on Saturday 26 June, Belgrave residents and traders have flocked to sign a petition created on Tuesday 28 June to support its continuation.
Billy Crombie, organiser of the change.org appeal which recorded over 1,000 signatures, took to the site to express concerns the festival may not run in coming years.
“Road closure and traffic management costs almost doubled this year”, she wrote.
“This reduces the amount the event has to spend on the more creative enterprises, and the depth to which it can engage with the community.”
As co-owner of the local Babaji’s Kerala Kitchen, Billy said contributions made by volunteers “cannot be taken advantage of” and the event was run on a “skeleton budget” in 2022.
Yarra Ranges Council contributed $12,000 to the Belgrave Lantern Parade in 2022 through their Creative Communties 2018-2022 Partnership Grant Programs.
$3,000 was supplied from Bendigo Bank and old Belgrave Traders Association funds, according to Ms Crombie, with an additional $10,000 worth of equipment provided by local production agency OBG Productions.
“We are really calling for it to be properly funded so the event can continue to grow and be run professionally – and more importantly – safely,” Billy told the Star Mail.
“It’s relied so heavily on volunteers over the [17] years, this year included, that it’s getting to the point where it’s at risk of not being able to continue…
“The traders are usually involved in getting this event up but that wasn’t the case this year because of Covid and everybody trying to survive the staff shortages – it’s been a really tough year for all businesses”
“A lot of people who have done this through the absolute love of the Hills community and love of this event over the years have gotten to the exhaustion point so they’ve not been able to be involved in it anymore.”
But for the festival to survive, the trader said more funding from Yarra Ranges Council needs to be delivered to improve road management and build public toilets.
Her estimate of required monies is at least $30,000.
“We’re quite genuine when we have to question whether or not that event will be able to run unless it is given much more support financially through the council,” Ms Crombie said.
One commenter on the petition said her and her family “love” the Belgrave Lantern Festival and “the festival nor any other similar type of celebration in the area, should not be overlooked for funding.”
“My family’s first time attending was this year. I’m really surprised I hadn’t heard of it before this,” another signer wrote.
Yarra Ranges Council’s Director of Communities, Jane Price, said the Creative Communities funding stream “supports not for profit groups and organisations to deliver activities that enhance local culture, celebrate community spirit and contribute to the liveability of Yarra Ranges”.
According to Ms Price, the council regularly reviews its Partnerships and Grants Program, including funding allocation, to ensure to ensure it is meeting “broad community needs” and “delivering on the aims of the program” and part of this involves feedback from grant recipients.
“The Belgrave Lantern Festival was a recipient of a Partnership grant 2018 – 2022, where Yarra Ranges Council partnered with Belgrave Traders Association with a $60,000 grant program over a five year period,” Ms Price said.
“Later this year, we will be opening our next Partnership Grant program where the Belgrave Traders Association are welcome to submit a new application where a new funding request can be made.”
Billy Crombie said local traders are grateful for the funding received from Yarra Ranges Council.
“I’m going to try and get five to ten thousand petition signatures so at least we can go to [the] council with evidence of how loved this event is,” she said.
To sign the petition or learn more, visit https://www.change.org/p/save-the-belgrave-lantern-festival
