After a hiatus of a few years, Emerald looks like it will have a New Year’s Eve celebration in 2016 the council’s Communities Standing Committee was told this week.
The Emerald Jockey Club is in the preliminary planning phase of a family-oriented event to be held at the Emerald Racecourse and placed a request to council to support their idea with $10,000 towards a fireworks display.
Council’s Manager Community and Customer Service Luke Lankowski advised the Committee of the need to make a quick decision to secure a booking with a fireworks company that would be willing to travel inland to put on a show at relatively short notice.
Councillor Nixon noted that there might be an issue with fireworks for some horses stabled near the racecourse that should be addressed well prior to the event.
All councillors present at the meeting spoke up with their support for such an event agreeing that there are many people that stay in town over the holiday season and, in the past, had been vocal about the lack of an organised community event.