By BRIDGET SCOTT
STAKEHOLDERS of the Berwick Carols by Candelight are at odds over the proposed location of the event, which was recently moved from Pioneer Park to Edwin Flack Reserve.
Originally, it was planned for the event to be held at Pioneer Park however it has been decided to move the event to Edwin Flack Reserve.
Councillor Susan Serey, who first proposed the event for Casey, said she suggested a number of location options to the council for the carols to be held.
“I moved that council investigate a number of options including Pioneers Park as a suggestion,” she said.
“It was investigated and discussed amongt all the stakeholders including Berwick Rotary, and we found Edwin Flack more suitable in this instance due to demand for parking and potential crowd numbers.”
However, Berwick Village Chamber of Commerce spokesman Harry Hutchinson said his group was not happy with the newly proposed location.
“Chamber is definitely against the move,” he said.
“We are at a loss as to why it’s been shifted.”
Mr Hutchinson said that if the event was held at Pioneer Park it would have given traders in the centre of Berwick the chance to get more business.
“If it was in Pioneer Park, traders could’ve stayed open and catered for crowds,” he said.
“It would’ve been a better atmosphere.”
Mr Hutchinson said Pioneer Park is one of the most underutilised parks in Berwick, with only one major event held there a year.
He added that while chamber members will still support the event there will be less involvement from Berwick traders.
“The park would’ve been ideal,” he said.
City of Casey councilor and Berwick Rotary member Mick Moorland welcomed the new location and said it will better cater for the big crowds.
“We’ve spoken to football and cricket club and they’re happy for it to be there,” he said.
“There is so much parking there, right beside the college.”
Cr Moorland said it will be held on the ovals and organisers will close off the football ground.
He said the Berwick Rotary Club has taken the lead in organising the event and there is no charge for families to attend.
Cr Serey said it was time families in the City of Casey had an opportunity to take part in an event like this.
Cr Moorland said while those involved didn’t expect the first event to be large, they hoped it will take off in the next couple of years.
“The first one will be the hard one,” he said.
Cr Moorland hoped other groups as well as chamber would get involved, such as the Inner Wheel.
“We want it to have a carnival atmosphere.”
“We want to get the community involved and want to make it a wonderful occasion.”
He said meals will also be served by the football club on the night with a designated area to drink as well.
