A previous application by the City of Coffs Harbour for a Local Event Day (12 noon to 5.30pm) on the first Thursday in August 2023 and 2024 was successful. However, Coffs Harbour Race Club recently announced that the annual Coffs Harbour Gold Cup will now take place on Friday 4 August 2023 and Friday 2 August 2024.
Following the change of date, the City will need to make a fresh application to the NSW Government for a part-day Local Event Day on the relevant dates.
It is too late to make a new application for the 2023 event, so the City will request that the Local Event Day on 3 August 2023 be cancelled and consider a new application to be made later this year for the 2024 and 2025 events. The cancellation of the 2023 Local Event Day will not affect the running of the Race.
A Local Event Day – as opposed to a Public Holiday – means that employers in the City of Coffs Harbour local government area are not obliged to pay their staff penalty rates. It also means that banks or shops within the area are not prevented from opening or trading.
As a result of the change in date, the City will need to make a new application and this process will start later this year and will include stakeholder consultation.
The Public Holidays Act 2010 (NSW) requires NSW Local Councils to apply every 2 years to the NSW Government for ‘local public holidays’ and/or ‘local event days’ for events of special significance that are recognised by the community, following community consultation.
