Community Views Sought on Coffs Cup Part Day Public Holiday

Published on 24 August 2021

Coffs Harbour City Council is seeking community feedback on having an annual part day local public holiday for the Coffs Harbour Gold Cup in 2022 and 2023. This event is held on the first Thursday in August.

To continue having a local part day public holiday, Council must apply to the State Government every two years to have it declared under the Public Holidays Act 2010.

Community consultation is an important part of the application process. Council’s General Manager Steve McGrath said that “consultation will help Council to get a clear picture of community views which we know are mixed.”

“We hope this process will highlight the benefits and concerns of the part day public holiday and encourage wide participation.” 

Under the Public Holidays Act 2010, local councils are able to apply for either a ‘local public holiday’ or a ‘local event day.’

Council has traditionally applied for a local public holiday, but a ‘local event day’ would not automatically mean that businesses must treat the day as a public holiday.

The community is invited to put in submissions closing on Wednesday, 15 September 2021.

Submissions can either be provided through Council’s ‘Have Your Say’ website at https://haveyoursay.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au/public-holiday, via email coffs.council@chcc.nsw.gov.au, or by post to Locked Bag 155, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450.

Differences between a Local Public Holiday and a Local Event Day Explained:

 
A Local Public Holiday

Where a local public holiday or part day public holiday is declared by the Minister, a bank located in the designated holiday area will be required to close during the declared public holiday hours unless the bank is exempted. Shops located within the designated holiday area are free to open without restriction.

Where it is proposed to request a part day public holiday, consideration should be given to the effect the part day holiday will have on local schools and on the transport of students who attend school on the day.

Implications

All employees irrespective of their former entitlements and whose place of work is within a local public holiday or part day public holiday area will be entitled to be absent from work for the day or part day declared to be a public holiday. In addition, employees who work on the day or part day may have an entitlement to penalty rates under a relevant award or enterprise agreement.

A Local Event Day

The Minister may also declare a local event day or part day at the request of a local council. The Minister must be satisfied that the day or part day is, and will be observed as, a day of special significance to the community in the area concerned.

A local event day or part day does not preclude banks or shops located within the designated holiday area from opening or trading on the day.

Implications

A local event day does not automatically mean that employers in the particular locality are compelled to treat the day as a public holiday. Entitlements to paid leave or penalty rates on a local event day will only arise where agreed to at the workplace level, usually in the form of an enterprise agreement or by contract.