RESIDENTS will be polled over whether they want next year’s Armidale Cup to be made into a half-day public holiday.
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The event has divided the city over the past two years, since Armidale Dumaresq Council decided against gazetting the annual event as a half-day holiday.
Businesses celebrated, because they did not have to pay penalty rates for staff working on the day, a move which had meant payrolls for some venues such as the Servies increase by up to 150 per cent.
But Armidale Jockey Club rued the decision, pointing out attendances over the past two years had fallen sharply, from an expected 3000 people.
Furthermore, takings at the historic event fell by 20 per cent.
So this year it again lobbied Council for the holiday status to return and its cause was taken up by Jim Maher at Monday’s council meeting.
“This has been a major showcase for Armidale for the past 148 years,” Cr Maher said. “We need to maintain this event and recognise that should the event not be reinstated as a half-day holiday, it will kill the [jockey] club.
“The economic benefits far outweigh any other considerations.”
If the half-day holiday were reinstated, it would cost Council $22,500 for salaries, councillors were told.
Officers advised Council had received substantial support from the community when it originally abolished the half-day holiday in 2013.
Ratepayers will be given 28 days in which to make their submissions to Council.