Council denies CinefestOZ funding

City of Busselton Councillors have voted in favour of Marketing and Events Reference Group recommendations, which will see eight of 15 applications for event funding denied.

The decision was made at Wednesday night's meeting, with only one exception to the recommendations being CinefestOz, who MERG had initially recommended against funding.

CinefestOz deputy chair Helen Shervington addressed council at the meeting and said without the $10,000 the organisation would end up in debt.

Councillor Rob Bennett moved an alternative motion and councillors voted to address CinefestOz's funding at the next council meeting.

Among the events which had their funding requests rejected were Busselton Tennis Club's annual Open Tennis Tournament and Junior Tennis Tournament, Portraits of the Jetty Photo Competition and Busselton Wildflower Exhibitions.

Planning consent for Vasse's Newtown House was also approved at Wednesday's meeting, under a stipulation restricting the opening hours of the business.

The alternative recommendation, which was pulled by officers after concerns were raised last week by surrounding residents, restricted the opening hours of the tavern on Fridays and Saturdays to 10.30pm as opposed to midnight.

Property owners and manager Peter Walsh and daughter Samantha Walsh plan to open the tavern, restaurant and day spa by September next year.