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Weekend Edition
www.wangarattachronicle.com.au
Phone (03) 5723 0100
FRIDAY, October 25, 2024
$2.00 INC. GST
IN FOR THE LONG HAUL WITH ALL COUNCIL ELECTION CANDIDATES Page 4
Janet and Don Heath are among a dedicated group of local residents who have spent more than 30 years restoring the historic Oxley Shire Hall. Thanks to fundraising efforts like the annual Oxley Bush Market they ensure it will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.
Short stay levy net widens
■ Story page 11.
PHOTO: Kurt Hickling
Page 2
Dirt track speed queen Sport
Folk festival confirmed THE Folk Rhythm and Life Festival at Eldorado will be held this December after plans were extinguished in 2023 due to planning permit issues. About 65 bands will perform at the Bilyana property in front of up to 3000 people on the weekend of December 6-8, an event that has attracted patrons from across Australia and the world. Councillors made a decision to approve the event in a confidential session towards the end of Tuesday
Eldorado Folk,, Rhythm y and Life Festival is back after a five-year y hiatus likely to be more as tickets are sold. There will be some international performers from Canada and New Zealand, local acts and plenty from Melbourne. Ticket purchases have come from people in Brisbane, Canberra, NSW, SA, Canada and Norway. The festival has a theme of music, mates, family and the bush and there will be a kids village for children under 12, and full catering
BY STEVE KELLY skelly@ nemedia.com.au
night’s council meeting, with an unanimous vote in favour of the event going ahead. The welcome news comes for the event that was first staged in 1996 but hasn’t run since 2018 due to covid, floods, and the permit issues. Event organiser Hamish Skermer said they have 65 bands confirmed and it’s
for patrons with food stalls, and local beers. “We’re hoping for up to 3000 people but 1800 would be good, considering the late notice that the event is definitely happening,” Mr Skermer said. “My enthusiasm for it is much higher than my feelings of frustration around the timing.” Problems with the event arose in 2023 with the CFA not having enough time to test an event management plan
J Q L U S 6
H U H K V L באƏǸƺȸ ³ɎȸƺƺɎً áƏȇǕƏȸƏɎɎƏ ǕƏȸȸɵȇƏɀǝِƬȒȅِƏɖ
and part of this was due to a breakdown of communications with authorities. “We have clear guidance in our permit that should there be an extreme or catastrophic fire rating then we cancel and abandon the event,” he said. “We’re prepared for the worst and we’re expecting the best. “Our preparations have been vindicated as has our documentation, and we as a group of event managers
have been backed and approved, the controversies are behind us. “I very much thank Mayor Dean Rees and ward councillor Harvey Benton and it has very much reinvigorated me in the power of local democracy.” Cr Rees said council is very happy with the event going ahead and the recommendation from officers was to approve the permit as well. ■ Continued page 2
zȒɯ ǣɀ Ɏǝƺ Ɏǣȅƺ ɎȒ ɀƺǼǼٍ !ȒȇɎƏƬɎ Ȓɖȸ ɀƏǼƺɀ ɎƺƏȅ ɎȒ ȒȸǕƏȇǣɀƺ ɵȒɖȸ ǔȸƺƺ ȅƏȸǸƺɎ ƏȵȵȸƏǣɀƏǼِ
٢ב٣ בההא אאוד