Permits, traffic plans, insurance, and waste rules. Anyone who has tried to run a street event in the Nambucca Valley knows the paperwork can be a mountain, and now the council wants to hear about it.
Nambucca Valley Council has secured $460,000 from the NSW Government’s Permit/Plug/Play Program to make street-based events less complicated and easier to deliver.
As the first step, the council has launched a community survey for event organisers, volunteers, and residents. It has also extended the survey by two weeks to give more people time to take part.
“Holding events are a great way to connect residents, attract tourists, and celebrate our great towns and villages in the valley,” said Nambucca Valley Council Acting General Manager David Moloney.
“Organising an event can be challenging and it involves navigating permits, approvals, traffic management, public safety, insurance, waste management and other requirements.”
Through the program, the council plans to map how it currently handles events and chart a course to make street events simpler and more accessible.
“We aim to improve Council’s event processes through the Permit/Plug/Play program to make event delivery easier for community groups and volunteers,” he said.
The project is expected to include an event toolkit to guide organisers through the process, and a new Event Strategy for the valley.
The council has brought in consultant Courtney Tune of Alt Collective to help deliver the project. She has been reaching out to event organisers and community groups across the valley.
“We know that vibrant streets deliver cultural, social and economic benefits,” said Minister for Transport and Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy John Graham.
“Streets are at the heart of community life – places to meet, support local businesses, and celebrate what makes our communities unique.”
“Activating them can be challenging due to the costs and complexities of approvals and temporary road closures.”
“The Permit/Plug/Play program helps councils and organisers overcome these barriers, which means more free events for the community to enjoy.”
The program also helps deliver on priorities in the Nambucca Valley Community Strategic Plan 2035, including more community-based events.
But time is running out to have a say. The survey closes at 5pm on Friday, 13 November.
“Please take a few minutes to fill in the event survey and share your experiences,” the acting general manager said.
“We’ve extended the survey time-frame by two more weeks to give people more time.”
The survey can be taken at https://www.nambucca.nsw.gov.au/Community/Events-in-Nambucca-Valley/Events-Strategy.
More information on the Permit/Plug/Play Program is at https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/industry/cities-and-active-transport/place-and-precinct-revitalisation.
Don’t miss any of the important stories from around the region. Subscribe to our email list.