Goolwa Rotary is working with Alexandrina Council with hopes to make the Goolwa Community Christmas Concert happen on 17 December, following a series of set-backs, relating to cost, location and red-tape.
Last week, Rotary announced the event may not go ahead if it could not make up a $5,000 shortfall in funding. By Monday, they told us the shortfall had been tackled thanks to the support of local businesses and organisations.
Then on Wednesday Rotary said were told by a Council representative that day that the Goolwa Oval would not be a suitable location due to construction nearby and insurance concerns.
Chief Executive Officer at Alexandrina Council Nigel Morris has since confirmed the meeting took place but that there had been a miscommunication.
“Goolwa Oval is currently undergoing a major redevelopment and parts of the area are active construction sites. The organiser was advised of the need to work around the ongoing construction work [which] may have resulted in some miscommunication,” Nigel Morris said.
“Council is supportive of the Goolwa Oval being used for the event. Council did not advise concert organisers at the Goolwa Rotary Club that the oval was unsuitable for use.”
A stage, food trucks and rides can be placed on the oval, but access is a major consideration.
“The organisers also need to have all appropriate insurances. To mitigate the financial risk to all ratepayers, that requirement is non-negotiable,” Morris said.
Council met yesterday with representatives of the Rotary Club of Goolwa to work through the logistics.
Morris said he and his team will be working closely with Rotary to ‘jump over the hurdles’ that come with coordinating a major event.
“I am hoping that with our combined efforts that we can come together on 17 December 2023 at the Goolwa Oval and sing a carol together,” he said.
Rotary Club of Goolwa President Elect Jan Lawrence said she is also hopeful of a positive outcome.
“Rotary had an extremely productive meeting with Council this morning to work through the miscommunication regarding the use of Goolwa Oval for the concert and to work through the logistics,” she said.
They will need to work swiftly in the coming days to get approval for the event to happen on 17 December.
