Thursday, May 7, 2015 marks 200 years since Governor Lachlan Macquarie proclaimed Bathurst as Australia’s first inland settlement, and council is planning a day of celebration.

But unless a public holiday is gazetted – as already happens in many NSW towns and cities for annual race days and agricultural shows – it is likely many people will be unable to attend the party.

The Bathurst Business Chamber has already voiced its opposition to a public holiday, with president Angus Edwards saying people who want to take part in the celebrations should do so in their own time – and outside of business hours.

He said if a public holiday was gazetted, many local businesses would be liable to pay penalty rates to their staff or be forced to close for the day.

“There’s no support among members. It is likely people would take the day off without even going to the event,” Mr Edwards said.

After consulting with the business chamber, council will not be applying to have May 7 gazetted a public holiday.

Instead they have made an application to the Industrial Relations Commission to have the day recognised as a Local Event Day. 

Mayor Gary Rush said this gives employers the choice of staying open without being penalised in any way. 

“I know businesses are doing it tough and I understand they don’t want to be in a position where they have to allocate a day off,” he said.

In 2014 20 Local Public Holidays were granted to Walcha, Albury, Scone, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Lismore and Muswellbrook for their big race days while the Kangaroo Valley, Kempsey, Maclean, Yeoval, Nyngan, Gilgandra, Coonamble, Trundle, Peak Hill, Parkes and West Wyalong communities had Local Public Holidays for their agricultural shows.

Grafton has a public holiday for Jacaranda Thursday. 

One long-time Parkes resident said there had been a half-day holiday for the Parkes Show for as long as he can remember. There was a time when they were given two half-days. 

He said the public holiday is not popular with the local business chamber, but he reckons it’s a good idea because it gives everyone the opportunity to come together and take real pride in their show. 

Mr Edwards said the Bathurst Business Chamber does not support a public holiday for Bathurst’s bicentenary because it would result in down time and penalty rates for some businesses.

“We are supportive of a whole week of celebrations, in fact the business chamber will have a dinner the night before to celebrate business in Bathurst over the past 200 years,” he said.

“People can make it to see some of the events without it being a public holiday. There has been some consultation about it, and it is something the local business chamber doesn’t support. 

“There will be other events on the weekend or after hours.

“There needs to be something on the day commemorating it, but the focus should be on the weekend when people can attend.”

Cr Rush said next year’s Procla-mation Day was important because of all the towns and cities in Australia, Bathurst is the first outside of Sydney to celebrate its 200th birthday.

“It is a very special day for the people of Bathurst – a day that has forever marked Bathurst as an inland settlement, while marking the opening up of the rest of Australia,” Cr Rush said.

“It allows those of us who currently live in Bathurst to reflect upon the people who, over those 200 years, contributed to making Bathurst what it is.”

Cr Rush said in light of the Bathurst Business Chamber’s opposition to a gazetted public holiday, council may consider having some additional activities on the weekend so everyone can be involved in this big milestone for the city.