HELLO Koalas Sculpture Trail will continue as a long-term attraction in NSW according to project manager Arts and Health Australia's (AHA) chief executive Margret Meagher.
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"While we are disappointed that Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is not supporting the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail from the Major Events Fund, at least council has offered to maintain selected sites on public land for existing sculptures," Mrs Meagher said.
"We are reviewing the trail with new ideas about how to expand it further."
She said council was the principal sponsor until December 2015, providing funding over the period from January 2013 until October 2014.
Moving forward Mrs Meagher said the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail will focus on maximising business and tourism opportunities.
"A recent post of Facebook reached 28,000 people in just one week, so we have clear evidence that the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail is very popular with people of all ages and from many parts of Australia and overseas.
"But it is certainly the local community which has come to love our Koalas in such a high profile way, and we thank them for being so engaged with our public art project."
The proposal put to the council by AHA was for an ongoing contribution for two years from the Major Events Fund to renew council's principal sponsorship so the trail could be expanded to 60 koalas (including one at Kew Visitors Centre).
It would also have assisted AHA with insurance and maintenance of the koalas and for a dedicated destination marketing push, Mrs Meagher said.
The trail had steadfast support from sponsors in the business, government and community sectors, including Port Macquarie Koala Hospital which is a principal event partner.
"We call our sponsors Community Champions and rightly so. It is their vision which enables the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail to delight locals and visitors to our region and we are looking forward to expanding the Trail beyond our LGA."
"In particular, we are proud that the attraction seems to be the most successful tourism event in the history of Port Macquarie - bringing in more visitors, entertaining more locals than ever before, according to many who have been active in the tourist industry for 30 years or more.
"Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail is No.3 out of 57 Things to Do in Port Macquarie on the well respected tourism service, TripAdvisor.
The trail was also a finalist in the category of New Tourism Business at the NSW Tourism Awards.
When asked why, if the trail is such a success (as documented in research conducted by council and measured via the TripAdvisor comments and the Trail Facebook interaction), council was not willing to provide funding over the next two years, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council director Tricia Bulic had this to say.
"Council is wanting to ensure that it has the capacity to support a range of community initiatives including giving those ideas that may not have already had traction through financial support the opportunity to get off the ground.
"The Hello Koala Sculpture Trail has had the benefit of council support which has contributed to its success and recognition.
"With limited funds available, council is keen to ensure that a broad range of community initiatives also have the opportunity to achieve similar success."
AHA is currently negotiating with existing and potential new sponsors to provide support of the popular tourist attraction into the future.