DUNGOG Shire Council has endorsed placing its draft Sponsorship Policy on public exhibition.
The draft Policy has been developed to provide a framework to support how Council may support events, programs, and activities that deliver benefits to the local community.
“The Draft Sponsorship Policy establishes a robust, transparent, accountable framework ensuring legislative compliance and managing corruption risks,” Council said in a statement.
“Importantly, it distinguishes sponsorship as a commercial exchange from grant funding as philanthropic assistance, ensuring appropriate assessment focusing on recognition value, clear promotional expectations, efficient resource allocation, and helping organisations identify the most appropriate funding pathway.”
Council currently provides community sponsorship on an ad-hoc basis without a comprehensive policy framework.
According to Council, this approach has resulted in:
● Inconsistent decision-making processes
● Limited transparency in how sponsorship decisions are made
● Absence of structured assessment criteria
● Limited accountability
● No strategic alignment with Community Strategic Plan objectives
● Potential compliance risks under Section 356 of the Local Government Act 1993
The Draft Sponsorship Policy will be available on Dungog Shire Council’s website for the community to review for 28 days.
Submissions will close on 14 November 2025 at 5:00pm.
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