Permit change kills beloved Northcote neighbourhood party
A popular annual Christmas street party in Northcote is at risk of cancellation after the local council axed its free street party program. Residents must now pay hundreds of dollars in permit fees, which they argue is an unnecessary barrier for a non-commercial community event.
Why it matters
This reflects a growing tension between local government budget austerity and the preservation of grassroots community social cohesion.
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Share A A A The annual family-friendly Christmas gathering on this Northcote street is a highlight of the calendar for its residents, featuring a pot luck lunch, a piñata and a much-anticipated water fight.
But Darebin City Council’s decision to begin charging hundreds of dollars for small-scale events could spell the end of the much-loved gathering.
Northcote’s Pete and Sarah Goss want to see Darebin’s free street party program reinstated. Eddie Jim Sarah Goss and husband Pete have lived in their Northcote home for more than a decade and look forward to the Christmas party, which predates their moving to the suburb.
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