The Rotary Club of Ballarat’s SpringFest director, Robert Glass, said it would mean musical acts Linch and Ain’t Misbehaving would not play, as there was not a replacement stage or electrics available at such short notice. 

“In the interest of public safety, we’ve gone ahead and said pull the plug,” he said. 

Mr Glass did not detail the problem specifically, but said the Rotary club had missed a certain permit from council, which meant an aspect of the large stage had not been checked. 

The rest of the activities will still run, and Mr Glass said the international program on Saturday would be a hit. 

“We’ve got the dragon boat blessing, the lighting of the lanterns for the kids, the Chinese lion dance and more happening from that point of view,” he said.

SpringFest, now in its 13th year, starts on Saturday evening. 

Mr Glass said there would be 416 stall sites. In addition, there would be plenty going on around the lake for people of all ages. 

At View Point there will be a second, smaller musical stage with 14 school bands performing: including those from Ballarat High School, Ballarat Grammar School and Ballarat Clarendon College.

Durham Point will host Tasting Temptations with wine and gourmet food. 

Other highlights include a tram pull competition run by Rotary Club of Ballarat Young Ambition, dragon boat racing, and Sovereign Hill by the Lake at Loreto Point.