The Waitaki District Council has been asked to "show leadership" by injecting $25,000 a year for the next three years into the Oamaru Victorian Heritage celebrations.
Celebrations' chairwoman Sally Hope made the request during the draft annual plan hearing yesterday.
She said the "small sum" would give the organisers, all of whom were volunteers, certainty as they started to plan for this year's celebrations.
The celebrations are one of the biggest annual events in Oamaru, attracting thousands of people to events such as the grand masters harness race day, rugby and the Steampunk exhibition.
The 2010 event would repeat Steampunk - again with the support of Weta Workshop - the harness race day and a heritage sports event.
About $12,000 had been retained from last year's celebrations to help with this year's.
"We ask the council to show leadership by recognising the heritage celebrations as an iconic event that . . . builds a greater sense of community, enhances the district's unique heritage and adds to its cultural wealth and economic development," Mrs Hope said.
The request was also supported by the Otago Chamber of Commerce, which suggested the council should contribute $50,000 a year, double what was requested.
