NOVOCASTRIANS are being invited to help determine if the first day of the 2025 Newcastle Show should be declared a local public holiday.
City of Newcastle is calling for community feedback after the council applied for a Show Day, following a whopping 84 per cent of the 144 people who made a submission on the proposal supported the idea, with a further 67 per cent standing behind a local event day.
A community survey is hoped to gather feedback from residents and businesses to gauge support of the proposal and how it will benefit the Newcastle economy.
Council's Corporate Services executive director and chief financial officer David Clarke said there would be consultation with chambers of commerce, banks, major employers and schools that would likely be impacted if it was declared a local public holiday.
"If the day was to be declared a local public holiday it would apply to all employees whose place of work is within the Newcastle Local Government Area," he said.
Council says alternatively a local event day may be declared.
"A local event day is not a public holiday, but can be considered as one, for those employees in the area who have agreed to observe the day in their relevant industrial agreement and any other employers who want to participate," a council spokesperson said.
Acting Business Hunter CEO Sheena Martin said she was pleased council had invited business feedback as part of their consultation and encouraged all businesses to have their say before the deadline.
"Businesses carry a heavy burden when a public holiday is declared, and this comes at a time when no one needs reminding about the incredible difficulties businesses continue to experience in relation to cost of living pressures and the cost of doing business," she said.
"As such, Business Hunter maintains support for a Local Event Day, which does not carry the cost burden on small business should they elect to open on the Show Day."
For a Show Day to be proclaimed a local event day or local public holiday, an annual application has to be made to the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet.
The community survey is open until 5pm on November 5 and will be presented to council for consideration, prior to an application being made to the NSW Government.
The 2025 Newcastle Show will run from Friday, February 28 to Sunday, March 2.
