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Member for Swan Hill Peter Walsh today announced that Buloke Shire Council’s local public holiday arrangements to celebrate its Wycheproof Agricultural and Pastoral Show Day had been gazetted.
Following last year’s amendment to the Public Holidays Act 1993, regional councils now have the ability to nominate a full-day public holiday or two half-day public holidays in different parts of their municipality in order to observe the various local agricultural and pastoral shows or regional race days.
Mr Walsh thanked Innovation, Services and Small Business Minister Louise Asher for offering councils the chance to nominate an alternative public holiday to the Melbourne Cup Holiday.
Mr Walsh said he was delighted that Buloke Shire had nominated a full day holiday to recognise the importance of the Wycheproof Agricultural and Pastoral Show Day in Wycheproof and district.
“As we know, many agricultural and pastoral shows and regional race days are often relevant to only one part of a Shire,” Mr Walsh said.
“People in Wycheproof and district can now celebrate Wycheproof Show Day with a public holiday on Wednesday 17 October.
“The remaining parts of Buloke Shire will observe the Melbourne Cup Day public holiday on Tuesday 6 November.”
Thanks to Coalition Government reform, all regional Councils have the ability to nominate the public holiday arrangements best suited to them, in lieu of Melbourne Cup Day, providing the choice that regional communities need.
Other regional Councils can arrange for multiple substitute holidays in different parts of the Shire, just as Buloke Shire has done.
These arrangements do not change the overall number of public holidays that Victorians are entitled to. All Victorians will still enjoy the same number of public holidays each year.
Regional Councils which wish to make any requests for alternative arrangements for Melbourne Cup Day 2012 must do so at least 90 days prior, which is no later than Wednesday 8 August 2012.