For Bellingen Jazz Festival’s coordinator, Ben Perrim, losing the iconic 25-year-old event, is not just a blow for the not-for-profit community event, but it’s an indication of what’s to come. He said there are a variety of reasons for closing the door – and these have far reaching consequences.

“The jazz festival has been a cornerstone for artistic expression and become a part of the fibre of our annual events,” Ben said.

“Hosted in over a dozen venues, it has been an asset for the CBD. It’s had a proud history, with street celebrations, Jazz in the Park, music flowing from cafes, church halls and pubs throughout town.

“Sadly, with the ever increasing pressures, the festival’s been cancelled. There are limited resources - funding, sponsorship, volunteers - within the region … many variables exist to hosting any festival large or small, but for the jazz festival factors including a decline in committee volunteers and a new competitive market.”

Ben said these factors, along with local and state government increasing red-tape procedures and their associated costs, saw the “straw that broke the back.”

“Unreasonable challenges imposed by council are faced by many community associations attempting to host activities that enrich, engage and/or promote our region,” he said.

“My experience, working within the events industry through a variety of regions in NSW, has always demonstrated a willingness and active participation from other relative councils to deliver various scale of events … not in this community … a region renowned for its annual events.

“Some councils have an events officer, or at least an events policy. This year three events have cancelled two appear to be closing the doors for good. All have been through arduous and unsupportive process from council.

“Organisers need a toolkit that outlines the obligations and opportunities available for parties – the individual requirements, as well as, proactive support from council.”

In response to last week’s Toast Urunga’s announcement, council’s general manager Liz Jeremy released the following statement: “An initial review of the matters raised in the Bellingen Shire Courier-Sun article October 7 has been carried out both in terms of the detail of the matters raised as well as whether and if so how the various matters raised had been previously conveyed to council.

“As is appropriate I have invited chamber executive members to meet with council representatives to work through the various issues in detail. This will include looking at relevant State legislation that council is required to administer in the context of the development approval for the event, funding opportunities that are provided by council and other support to events such as the Events Hub which has been work in progress for some months and is to be launched shortly.”