The show can't go on - so should Ballarat's very own public holiday go by the wayside too?
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That is the question to be debated among the city's nine councillors on Wednesday night, following the cancellation of the Ballarat Show due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
In an item of urgent business, councillors will consider whether the holiday should now change from the previously planned November 13 date.
One of the options on the table is to revert to the previous Melbourne Cup public holiday, which would put the city back in line with metropolitan workers.
Which date would you prefer and why? Have your say below
The timing of the holiday has been a matter of contention, particularly among the city's business community, which has complained about the issues caused by a public holiday on a Friday, especially one timed relatively closely to Melbourne Cup and Grand Final days.
However, the Ballarat Show Day has been broadly supported by the community. In the background notes to the item, a report says three options were considered by the public in 2010 and 2012 to establish which public holiday date Ballarat residents preferred.
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The three options were: Melbourne Cup Day; Ballarat Show Day and Eureka Day. Two thirds of the 4,214 public submissions supported Ballarat Show Day.
In 2017, councillors voted to continue the public holiday on the city's own show day.
Given the cancellation, officers are recommending council approve a date change to the second favourite suggestion, which was on Melbourne Cup Day.
If council decides to apply for another date aside from Melbourne Cup Day, it would need to make an official request to the state government by August 4.
Have your say below
