Update October 2024

Thank you to everyone who has provided feedback on Councils draft Festivals and Events Policy. The final Policy was adopted at the Council meeting on the 10 September 2024.

A two-phase public consultation approach was conducted on the draft Policy. Phase One included targeted engagement with event attendees and event organisers over the peak events season from 2 December 2022 to 31 March 2023. This provided an opportunity to understand any key issues ahead of the formal consultation and address key concerns and opportunities in the Policy. Phase Two involved formal consultation on the draft Festival and Events Policy from 24 April 2024 to 16 May 2024.

A number of areas were identified where amendments to the policy could improve clarity and consistency, provide further guidance for event organisers on safety at events, and ensure the Policy kept up to date with Council’s strategic goals around environmental impacts and accessibility at events. It also provides flexibility for Adelaide Hills Council to take advantage of tourism opportunities with regards to certain events.

Amendments have been made post consultation to provide clarity on application timelines and approval processes for noncompetitive motoring events and sporting events with road closures, modified traffic conditions and speed restrictions. Analysis of South Australia Police guidelines for road closure approvals identified discrepancies within the Policy which have since been updated.

You can view the final Policy and Community Engagement Outcomes Report under key documents.

Policy and Toolkit ready for your comments

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback as part of the Festival and Events Policy review - we are now analysing your feedback and will update the policy accordingly before taking it to Counci for endorsement.

The Draft Festival and Events Policy (the “Policy”) is now ready for your review and comment. We are also giving you the opportunity to comment on the Event Organisers’ Toolkit.

• How do the proposed Policy changes sit with you?
• Would you like to see any further changes made to the Policy?
• Does the Toolkit need additions or changes?

Please provide your feedback by Thursday 16 May 2024.

Context

We support over 100 diverse community events each year. Events and festivals create a huge opportunity for community connection and celebration as well as social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits. Festivals and Events come with a varied range of responsibilities, planning requirements and community expectations which, if not managed well can result in a variety of issues and conflicts. To help with this we have a Festival and Events Policy, and your feedback now will help shape the Policy.

Summary of key themes in Phase One Consultation

• Positive feedback on free, family friendly events in the Hills e.g. markets
• Negative feedback around rallies and Santos Tour Down Under road closures from residents, especially around road closures for the Challenge Tour in January 2023
• Electrical Certificate of Compliance for civic events – organisers did not feel they should have to pay anything towards this (we currently subsidise $150 of the $190 cost)
• Rally organisers would like multiyear agreements to provide certainty for their events to operate in the Adelaide Hills region. Annual approval of road closures would still be required by the CEO
• Events and businesses would like to see more focus on environmental impacts e.g. separated waste streams, better recycling with mobile vendors

Notes on Policy for Consultation

The Festivals and Events Policy provides Council and its administration with principles and guidelines for administering festivals and events in our region. This Policy applies to festivals and events within the district that are run by Council, supported or sponsored by Council, where Council has an agreement or contract with the Event Organiser, or where the event may have significant community, economic or environmental impact. The current Policy was adopted on 27 August 2019.

The Policy is due for review, and as part of this the review has identified a number of areas where amendments to the Policy can improve clarity and consistency, provide further guidance for event organisers on safety at events, and ensure the Policy keeps up to date with Council’s strategic goals around environmental impacts and accessibility at events. It also helps to provide further flexibility to certain events to allow the Adelaide Hills to take advantage of tourism opportunities.

An Event Organisers’ Toolkit is referred to in the Policy and this toolkit will also be reviewed to reflect the updated Policy following consultation.

Your feedback matters

Your feedback will shape our Festival and Events Policy and Event Organisers' Toolkit. Sharing your feedback as an event attendee or as an event organiser will help us improve what we do and create the best events in the hills.

We have highlighted in the draft Policy the key changes we have made to make it easer for you to see what's being propsoed.

If you attended or organised an event recently we would love to hear from you.

You can share your thoughts and feedback as an event attendee or an event organiser in a number of ways:

1. Preferably using the submission form on this page
2. Sending an email to engage@ahc.sa.gov.au
3. Calling us (see details below)
4. Completing a hard copy feedback form
5. Writing a letter to Community Engagement Coordinator- 63 Mount Barker Road, Stirling SA 5152

We're here to listen

You can contact our team via engage@ahc.sa.gov.au or call 8408 0400

Further information on organising or attending an event