CHRIS THOMSON

City of Perth officials have changed their tune and recommended ratepayers subsidise the V8 “activation” of Northbridge Piazza and an autograph signing by Supercar drivers.

The city staff have urged the council’s elected officials to approve a sponsorship deal of $5751 sought by state government cheerleading agency Eventscorp.

Last February, the officials were stingier, jeopardising the autograph signing when they recommended an Eventscorp request for $5605 be refused. The councillors voted against the recommendation and the show went on.

Perth’s round of the annual V8 Supercars championship returns to the Barbagallo thunderdome between May 4 and 6.

As per last year, an autograph signing is planned for Forrest Place.

It has been pencilled in for noon to 1pm on Thursday, May 3, and about 3000 Supercar fans are expected to attend.

In City of Perth-speak, Eventscorp also plans to “activate” Northbridge Piazza from May 3 to Sunday May 6 – through such means as showing Supercar videos on the big screen there.

In plain English, “activate” means to attract people to a place that would otherwise be dead. It is a horrid buzzword invented by university-educated pencil pushers who should know better.

In Perth, the term is most often used in media releases spun for Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi.

The sponsorship deal is yet to be debated by the city’s councillors.

Image by Biechos