At last weeks council meeting, Cr Petreski successfully put forward a notice of motion to call on Local Government NSW to advocate for an expansion of the Vivid festival in Sydney, and take it to regional areas as a roadshow.

He told the Mercury the well-known brand would stimulate regional economies while reinvigorating the 10-year-old Sydney festival.

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“The equipment has to be somewhere and stored until next year,” Cr Petreski said. “Instead of storing it away, if we could take it to the regions, the regions [will] also benefit … to stimulate economy in winter when it’s traditionally slower.

“It’ll be an enabler for local councils as well, where they’re passing on some of their skills and knowledge so we can have localised events with local a local flavour, but still utilise some of the equipment.”

The new Shell Cove marina was suggested as an optimal location, while Cr Petreski also offered Lake Illawarra as another preferred location – which he said would benefit both Shellharbour and Wollongong local government areas.

Shellharbour Council will now contact LGNSW to advocate for an expansion of the festival and to assist interested councils in securing a roadshow visit.

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