Fireworks entice councillors

By Sarah Schwager
CASEY residents may no longer have to travel to Melbourne’s CBD or Phillip Island for New Year’s Eve fireworks celebrations.
Casey Council is looking at staging its own event to please the local crowds.
At last week’s council meeting, councillors agreed local residents had to travel too far to celebrate the approaching new year.
Councillor Janet Halsall said she was disappointed people had to go such a long way for New Year’s Eve entertainment.
She asked for a report on funding issues for a regular event.
“Mildura City Council has a celebration that is totally funded by council and in the past has been run by community groups,” she said.
Cr Halsall said the Mildura council usually took on a budget of $15,000 for a crowd of about 10,000 people.
“That’s $1.50 per person,” she said.
Casey houses more than 227,000 people while the City of Mildura has just 51,000.
Possibilities for a New Year’s Eve event could include a 9.30pm and midnight fireworks displays and a showcase of local bands and local talent. It would be an alcohol-free event. Council officers will prepare a report by the end of March on the viability of council staging an event.