By Corey Everitt
The increasing burdens of risk management and insurance on local organising has claimed another victim, as it was announced New Year’s Eve and Australia Day celebrations in Pakenham have been cancelled.
Lakeside Residents Group (LSG), who took on the large events in 2019, reached out to the Gazette to announce their decision to end the two events which have been enjoyed by thousands of residents each year.
These events have been spurred by grants from Cardinia Shire Council and local donors.
But as the years past the requirements on risk management and traffic management have increased to the point where the 10-person volunteer group has felt they have become impossible to continue.
Long time president of LRG and Stan Henwood award winner Wendy Andrews, as well as secretary Tony O’Hara, were excited to continue the events in 2022 after the pandemic, but in that time the requirements had expanded.
“We didn’t have it for a couple of years, we were really excited to have it back again last year and it was just so popular, just so many people wanted to come to it because it’s a really good family-friendly event,” Wendy said.
“But the hoops we had to jump to actually get it to run, it’s just the list never ends.
“We are only a small group, 10 volunteers, and it was very onerous what was put upon us to try and get all the requirements ticked off.”
The two issues that plagued the large events were the increasing conditions of risk and traffic management.
When it came to NYE, held at Toomuc Recreation Reserve, the once straightforward parking and traffic rules increased.
“Then they told us we had to restrict the traffic on Princes Highway down to 40km/h through the event, we didn’t have that in the past,” Tony said.
“We had some traffic management, but not to that level.”
Wendy added, “it was just directing traffic – now it’s extensive traffic management and expensive”.
The cost was compounded on the volunteer group as insurance was practically double according to Wendy, similar to the issues that brought saw the end of Yakkerboo’s iconic parade earlier this year.
While for both NYE and Australia Day back at the turn of 2022-23, they had to go through a seemingly unending number of issues which resulted in changes that diminished the experience and the resolve of the LRG to keep it going.
The Australia Day celebrations started in 2019 at the Cardinia Cultural Centre where it would join with the Citizenship Ceremony held inside, attracting 3000 to 4000 this year.
Tony explains the seemingly endless hurdles.
“When we started and did the first plan, they came back and we had a site meeting, they said we couldn’t have jumping castles on the amphitheatre because a child could run into a lake,” Tony said.
“There is a footpath all the way round the lake that kids run on all the time on bikes, scooters, everything.
“Anyway, so that then meant we had to move stuff off of there, so we did it with a new plan and limited what was down below.
“Then we were told we are not allowed to use the path access we always used in the past, we had to go down a grass ramp, if it was going to rain a couple of weeks before we would not be able to use it.
“Therefore we moved everything out of there, we changed the plan several times. Each time they came up with a problem, we solved it.
“We moved out the front more stuff and they said we can’t have jumping castles at the front here because a kid might run past the rocks, past the bushes, over the footpath, through the parked cars and into the road, even though the rides will be facing away and the parents should be with their children.”
They applied this to restrict the placement of the animal petting farm for the same reason.
This whole affair would ultimately not matter, as six weeks before Australia Day, the council told them the centre could no longer hold more than 1000 people at a time, including inside and outside in the amphitheatre, and they had no other choice but to move.
The reason was due to the limitations of parking at the centre, even though LRG had got permission from the Lakeside Primary and as well as the church across the lake to use their parking.
While according to Tony they were told not to get permission from local shops.
The celebration would be moved to Toomuc Reserve where its connection to the Citizenship Ceremony was severed.
Similar small issues affected NYE, both events taken together Wendy “up to a dozen or 15 site plans were drawn up” as each problem was raised, some made at the very last minute.
Wendy and Tony don’t deny addressing risks and spending many hours addressing the issues, but to an extent their needs to be an understanding of what risks to consider.
“They are all legitimate, but risk management can only do so many things, there has to be some common sense of the reality of life,” Tony said.
“Everything is a risk, you walk out this door it’s a risk, a plank could fall off this building, it’s a risk, unlikely and that’s where the trouble is.”
Risk management doesn’t end here, LRG must consult the council and the police about the Emergency Management Plan which according to Tony and Wendy involves them preparing for violent situations such as a bomb threat or armed individuals.
Wendy and Tony have taken the measures for safety at their events, but it’s disheartening why a small group of volunteers organising a community event, rather than established institutions, is responsible for such extreme scenarios.
“For our events like NYE, we had the fire brigade on call to come for any emergencies, police were in attendance as part of their routine, we had security guards,” Wendy said,
“But when you are trying to mitigate risk and you get told, ‘what are you going to do when you have to front the Coroners Court when someone dies’, that really makes you feel like why am I bothering?
“We are not qualified to deal with this, when we were discussing this with the police, we just said we wouldn’t know what to do, it’s not our job.”
Neither of them wish to point the finger at anyone for the blame, they wish to make clear that the council’s event delivery officer, Rebecca Ellis, was very helpful in their correspondence.
While they gave the courtesy to inform the council of their decision earlier in the year and explained they will announce it publicly at a later date.
Rather, they just want to point out that the capabilities for the community to organise in this environment is tough.
“When you consider that all of these events are done for the people at Cardinia and Cardinia Council does contribute to most of that, in a way it’s being done for council, for their residents,” Tony said.
“So we are a little bit surprised that these big hurdles are put in front of organisations when they are doing their best to make something work for the people of Cardinia.”
Wendy added: “We understand the community which is going to be disappointed and we really regret having to do, but we didn’t have any alternative.”
In response to questioning by the Gazette, Bec Whiting, the council’s Coordinator for Risk, Health and Safety said they will continue to work with the group in the future.
“Council respects the Lakeside Residents Group’s decision to not proceed with its planned events and has offered to work with the group to plan future events,” said.
“Major events on council land must be approved by council and applicants must demonstrate they have insurance and adequate plans and resources in place to manage risks to people and property.”
LRG will continue their smaller events on Easter, Christmas and Halloween.
