Every year, the organisers approach council for financial assistance to run the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) program at Mount Panorama.

Council staff are usually reluctant to offer up financial assistance, but then councillors swoop in to save the day.

READ ALSO: Our say | RYDA forced to fight again for its survival

This year, though, it seems there will be no need to fight.

In a report to council's meeting on Wednesday, director of Corporate Services and Finance, Aaron Jones, recommended council waive $4000 of the venue hire fees for the 2021 event.

A decision was made to support Rotary last month following a meeting between councillors and community groups, where there was a presentation from representatives of the Rotary club about RYDA.

"The representatives tabled a three-year budget, estimating that the event would become self-sufficient by the third year. In their presentation, the representatives commented on the sponsors that had already been secured for this year's event, and invited council to consider providing some financial assistance towards this year's event," Mr Jones said.

"Following the presentation by the Rotary Club of Bathurst, councillors discussed the provision of financial assistance and reached a general agreement to provide a one-off fee waiver of $4000 towards the venue hire fees for this event at Mount Panorama."

If his recommendation is accepted, the funding would be provided through council's Section 356 - Mount Panorama fee waiver allocation.

The decision to support the next event comes after councillors had seemingly reached the end of their rope with funding in 2019.

READ MORE: Council grants RYDA extra support, but wants a new plan for the future

That year, councillors went against the Mr Jones' recommendation not to provide funding, but also requested a report come back to council with a clear direction for the future funding of the event.

Specifically, they wanted the report to address how the event would be funded in future and an "alignment [of the program] with council's donations policy and facilities hire practices".

"I understand it's a program put on for kids' safety in cars, that's fine, but when groups book a venue knowing there's a cost involved and then come and play their violin to council saying 'We can't afford that' after the event, it's just not on," councillor Warren Aubin said at the time. "We need to make a stand on this."

RYDA is scheduled to be held over six days in April and May.

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