The Whittlesea Community Festival has a new home, with councillors voting to move the event to the civic centre in South Morang from next year.
The council began searching for a new venue for the festival this year after councillors voted in December to relocate the annual event from Lalor’s Whittlesea Public Gardens to South Morang.
The festival is Whittlesea’s biggest community event and has been held ay the gardens for 20 years.
The move to relocate the festival divided councillors and sparked a petition from residents. But at the August 8 council meeting a recommendation to move the event to the civic centre was passed without discussion from councillors.
A report to the council said the civic centre was an ideal location as it was “a tried and tested successful event site”.
Officers also examined the possibility of holding the festival at three other sites- McDonalds Road, Findon Road and the Mill Park Recreation Reserve.
Mayor Ricky Kirkham said the relocation would rejuvenate the festival.
“The civic centre has close access to public transport, ample parking and is located centrally in the city of Whittlesea,” he said.
“As our largest event, it is important we get it right and this location provides a great opportunity for everyone to enjoy a day out with the family.”
Cr Kirkham said the new location provided an opportunity to try new activities for the event.
“We are open to exploring new ideas about how the festival might look into the future,” he said.
