Councillors voted to make the sponsorship conditional, with a requirement of the funding boost stipulating Council’s right to set up a pop-up Visitor Information Centre at the event.

Festival organisers also have to promote Council as the event’s major sponsor to get their hands on the cash. 

A report put to Council on Monday night recommended councillors vote to pledge the money and in-kind donations to the festival, adding that Council recognition on promotional material was expected.  

“Council provides more than 10 times the amount of funding than the nearest other sponsor,” the report read.

“It should be expected that for such a considerable contribution that Council be the major sponsor of the event and be promoted and recognised as such, rather than just another sponsor.”

Council will also assist the festival by proving garbage bins, erecting fencing and promotional banners and facilitating street closures. 

Festival organisers have budgeted for low-cost attractions for the festival.

But the big ticket items such as a jumping castle, fireworks and a rock climbing wall are estimated to cost more than $5000 together. 

A draft budget proposal indicates the festival will cost more than $24,000 and return a profit of $222.85.

But festival organisers Bev Stubberfield and Leanne Cooper said the event is about bring people to town rather than the Thunderbolts Festival Management Committee returning a profit.

In a letter to Council, they said this high volume of visitors to Uralla is lucrative for local businesses. 

“The school and the local not-for-profit groups all report this event to be their single biggest fundraiser of the year,” the letter said.

“All proceeds from this event are donated back to the local community.”

The festival will be held on Saturday, October 24.