The economic benefits of making sure a New Year’s Eve celebration is held is too good an opportunity for Dubbo Regional Council to pass up, according to mayor Ben Shields.
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Council announced on Thursday it would look to continue the new year’s eve celebrations for the city after the volunteer run Dubbo Fireworks Committee announced they would dissolve, following five years of operations in town.
Council said it would be making announcements later in the year, with Cr Shields saying currently ‘everything was on the table’.
“We are keen to do something similar to what we have had, but it is very early days,” Cr Sheilds said.
“Preferably we would like a traditional new years eve celebration, but all these logistics have to be worked out first.
“It’s up to the events team to come up with a viable plan, and currently everything is on the table.”
While other councils in the region have run new year’s eve celebration event’s, Dubbo Regional Council has only provided donations to the committee or association that has done the work in Dubbo in the past.
However Cr Shields said now council had to start providing those services.
“It’s one of those things, we are no longer a bush country town, we are a vibrant city and we have to start providing these services.
“We are the largest area west of the Blue Mountains and the economic benefits of having this event in Dubbo is huge.”
“We can't inspire to be the big regional city, without offering the city style events.”
Cr Shields said Dubbo Regional Council had a ‘kick-ass’ events team, and he had ‘total faith’ they would come up with something good.
At this stage council were looking at what could be done, where an event could be held and were talking to stakeholders to work out the most practical way forward.
A budget for the event hadn’t been worked out, with the 2019/20 financial year budget to be finalised.
It is also possible the event will involve some sort of volunteer component, but that is also yet to be worked out.
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