Consultation has opened today to investigate the use of fireworks and animals as forms of entertainment at City of Greater Bendigo events only.
The City's only fireworks displays are on New Year's Eve and as part of the Bendigo Easter Festival on Easter Saturday, while a number of community activities throughout the year involve small businesses that provide animal-based entertainment, such as petting zoos, pony rides and reptile displays.
At the request of Council, two, quick surveys have been developed. The community may choose to complete one or both surveys, with each survey to take only two or three minutes.
Feedback closes Monday July 29.
At the May Council meeting, Council supported two Notices of Motion to investigate alternatives to the use of fireworks and animal-based entertainment.
A Notice of Motion is best described as a Councillor-led request for action on a certain issue.
When completing the survey regarding fireworks, residents are asked to consider if they have attended City fireworks displays on New Year's Eve or as part of the Bendigo Easter Festival in the past three years, and to provide their views on whether these displays should continue.
When completing the survey regarding animal activities, residents are asked to consider if they have attended events such as Bendigo Easter Festival activities in Rosalind Park, FunLoong Fun Day in Hargreaves Mall or Play in the Garden Children's Week activities at the Garden for the Future.
Council will use the feedback received to inform a decision on whether to transition away from the use of New Year's Eve and Bendigo Easter Festival fireworks (the only fireworks displays staged by the City) by 2032 and to transition away from the use of animals at City events by 2028.
