GANNAWARRA Shire Council will defer a decision regarding the municipality’s public holiday structure for 2017 until after this year’s council elections.
Council is investigating whether to retain its arrangements for the Melbourne Cup day and the main day of the Kerang and District Agricultural Society’s annual show or whether to implement new plans.
Since 2013, the Kerang Show day has been the public holiday in lieu of Melbourne Cup day for residents and businesses within the former Borough of Kerang area, with the remainder of the municipality having the first Tuesday in November as its day off.
However, Kerang business leaders tabled a petition in August calling for more public consultation on the matter prior to any decision being made at the end of current arrangements, which end this this year.
Council resolved at its September meeting to undertake consultation, with an online survey developed.
More than 300 people participated in the survey, which found that 69 per cent of respondents wanted the municipality to have the same public holiday.
Fifty-five per cent of those surveyed identified Melbourne Cup day as their preferred public holiday choice, with 31 per cent choosing the Kerang Show day.
“Because any change would not come into effect until the term of the new council, the decision should be left for the new councillors to decide,” Gannawarra mayor, Cr Lorraine Learmonth said.
“Deferring this decision will also allow the Kerang and District Agricultural Society more time to plan for the changes which could come into effect from November 2017.”
Kerang and District Agricultural Society president, Geoff Davey said it was too early to tell what impact any changes to the non-metropolitan public holiday structure would have on the group’s major annual event.
“The number of participants who took part in the survey is a pretty poor response, full stop; and most of the people I have spoken to are happy with the half-half structure,” he said.
