Wilson told a council community services committee meeting yesterday.
Committee members approved the strategy and a budget of $50,000 per year in June and a funding criteria and process at the meeting yesterday.
Cr Wilson said while he supported the criteria and process, he did not think the strategy provided enough "scope" for the district.
"It has the potential to be much bigger," he said.
He said more funding needed to be available to encourage more events to the district.
However, he said it was not only council's responsibility but also Destination Queenstown, Lake Wanaka Tourism and the Wanaka and Queenstown chambers of commerce needed to be more involved in promoting and providing funding for events.
"I don't think we should let it go... Their members are probably likely to see the economic benefits of more events in town," he said.
Cr Vanessa Van Uden said the strategy did not look at the bigger picture.
She said event managers needed to be told they could also apply for "services in kind" as well as funding.
"We need to make it easier for events to come here and stay here," she said.
Council's arts and events facilitator Jan Maxwell said Mayor Clive Geddes, council chief executive Duncan Field, community services manager Paul Wilson, Lake Wanaka Tourism chief executive James Helmore, Destination Queenstown communications manager Anika Forsman, Lakes Environmental chief executive Hamish Dobbie, and Lakes Leisure chief executive Fiona McKissock, met to discuss the strategy and funding process last month.
"A key point that came out of that meeting was that we would definitely work together," she said.
Ms Maxwell's report to committee members recommended they approve the process of allocating the funding and a clear list of criteria for event partnership programme and sponsorship applications.
It was important for consistency to all applicants, she said. The first of the funding rounds would open this month.
"It is important the funding is used appropriately and it will require a project report at the completion of each event that receives a funding allocation to show accountability for the support funding," she says.
A subcommittee of Crs Wilson, Vanessa Van Uden, Lex Perkins and Ms Maxwell was appointed at the meeting to consider funding applications.
Committee members rejected Ms Maxwell's recommendation that Lakes Leisure event manager Karen Gemmell also be on the subcommittee.
Cr Van Uden said it could be seen as a way for Lakes Leisure to get funding for events at Queenstown Events Centre.
"It's not necessarily a role for Lakes Leisure," she said.
