They are two of the many major events, including Ramadan Nights and Bankstown Bites, which have even cancelled this year with the Covid-19 pandemic taking a heavy toll on community activities.
A council report stated that the current restrictions limited major events to 500 people, suitably distanced, seated, and with a Covid plan and processes in place which have been signed off by NSW Health.
“While these are the current controls, there are significant risks in proceeding with organising some of these events as the Government restrictions may change or there may be further waves or hot spots of Covid-19,” it stated.
“It is important to recognise that we are a Government authority and therefore there are higher expectations placed on us to protect the health and wellbeing of our community.
“While there is currently a positive trajectory in terms of cases of Covid, as a leader we must not lead to complacency.”
A City of Canterbury Bankstown spokesperson said the council would be using the money that is normally spent on the events, like Carols at Wiley Park, to spread the festive cheer further around the City “than we’ve typically been able to do”.
“We are not only installing larger-than-life Christmas trees in Bankstown and Campsie, but we’ll also put up five-metre trees in Belmore, Revesby, Chester Hill, Earlwood and Greenacre,” she said.
There will also be a report going to the November Council Meeting, to consider a series of family-friendly Christmas activities and smaller events.
Spokesperson for Padstow Rotary, organisers of the Padstow Carols, Julie Harris said it would have been the 52nd year of the event and although it didn’t look like it would go ahead, they were exploring other ways to spread the Christmas cheer.
