Harvest Festival receives $20,000 grant from Destination NSW

A new local harvest festival is plannedCentral Coast Harvest Festival

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald MLC, announced that Harvest Festival Central Coast received $20,000 in Round One of the NSW Government’s 2018 Incubator Event Fund.

The Fund, managed by the State’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, assists regional events in their infancy to grow attendance and boost the local visitor economy. This is the second consecutive year the NSW Liberal-National Government has supported the Harvest Festival. Mr MacDonald said the Festival helped gaining additional visitors to the Central Coast while showcasing the region’s strengths in food and beverage production. “Events play an important role in attracting both new and returning visitors to our regional towns, bringing with them additional business to restaurants and cafes, local tourism operators, attractions and accommodation providers,” Mr MacDonald said.

“I congratulate the event organisers and Central Coast Council on this wonderful achievement, and thank Destination NSW for their continued support,” he added. Mayor Jane Smith said that Central Coast Council welcomed the news of the grant for Harvest Festival Central Coast and the continued support of the NSW Government through Destination NSW. “Harvest Festival Central Coast is an important event that Council runs for the region and it has been developed to link directly with local farmers and businesses to promote our region’s quality produce and showcase our unique hinterland to visitors,” Mayor Smith said. “The inaugural event in 2017 attracted over 10,000 attendees to the region and brought together a community of food lovers and connoisseurs which positively impacted on our local businesses and economy. “We welcome the continued support of the NSW Government for Harvest Festival Central Coast and praise its efforts in boosting tourism in regional NSW,” Mayor Smith said.

Source: Media release, Jun 7 Kit Hale, Offi ce of Scot MacDonald MLC