On Monday night at its ordinary meeting, council resolved to support event organisers the Horsham Agricultural Society on a new two-year trial basis, before eventually determining a longer-term financial and in kind commitment.

The meeting heard 2,500 people attended the 2018 event, to which council also contributed $20,000.

Related: New Year's Eve 2018 in Horsham | Photos

A report authored by Business Development and Tourism co-ordinator Chris McClure noted the direct economic effect to Horsham of hosting the event was estimated to be $30,000, with flow-on effects of a further $24,000.

Councillor Alethea Gulvin asked Development Services director Angela Murphy what support council could offer the society beyond money.

Ms Murphy replied they didn't give the society much time to organise the event, and that they needed to find volunteers themselves.

Agricultural society president Zack Currie said it was reassuring council could see the organisation was doing something valuable for the community.

Secretary Andrea Cross also welcomed the support, but said the society had been hoping for a commitment of $25,000 given the expectation attendance numbers would grow for the 2019 event.

"We would perhaps look at doing cheaper bands or light shows, because right now I'm not sure where, but we're going to have to cut our costs," she said.

"The other thing, in terms of in-kind support from council we would appreciate given we didn't expect so many people would be seating. I know there are chairs used at the Australia Day ceremony, so that type of infrastructure would be helpful, and any lighting and umbrellas for shade.

"If we're to grow the event, we also need power, for more food trucks, we're limited by our power and where it's located, so this year we would be looking at hiring in a generator so we have more room for expansion."

Mrs Cross said the challenge for the society was the period between Christmas and New Year. She said the society needed an extra 10 volunteers to run the event as well as possible.

"A lot of our volunteers are away on holidays and the programs we have in place like work for the dole, we can't insist they work that week, and so it is manpower, it's in the setup and the pack up, so any additional volunteers for those weeks would be valuable."

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