Moe traders have welcomed Latrobe City Council’s decision to investigate a full-day public holiday for Moe Cup Day.
The decision comes after school principals in the Moe-Newborough area objected to an application by Moe Racing Club for the declaration of a half-day public holiday for the 2018 Moe Cup Day, citing impacts on school attendance.
A council report recommended councillors not support the request for a half-day public holiday for Moe Cup Day, however, councillors resolved to investigate the viability of holding a full-day holiday for Moe, with a decision to be made at the next council meeting in July.
Moe Traders Association secretary Sue Broadbent said a full-day public holiday would be beneficial for businesses in Moe.
“As a parent, I know it was hard to get your kids to and from school if you are working but the amount of money that it brings into the town [and with] the way we are at the moment, can we really afford not to give the boost to the economy the traders desperately need?” she said.
“It is an iconic day. People know it statewide and now we have the Gelagotis brothers international …. it is something we can expand on every year and turn up to be really huge.
“Lets get it back to the big iconic event it used to be used be.”
Ms Broadbent said the delayed decision, which originally went before council in April, could impact on advertising the public holiday and sale.
“It does make it hard with advertising. It still gives us enough time to reply to the minster for a gazetted day, there is still time enough to do that, but it does make it difficult for advertising,” she said.
Speaking to the council meeting on Monday night, Cr Graeme Middlemiss said there was “some case to be made for a full public holiday”, which he would like to see explored.
The matter will go before council again in July.
