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Planning a Community Event

Holding a Public Event?

Well managed community-based events are an important part of our cultural calendar. They promote community pride and spirit, bring people together in an atmosphere of fun, and attract visitors to the region.

Whether you have had previous experience in planning events or are a complete novice, our event management guide (PDF, 5MB) has been developed to assist you plan a small to medium sized event that is relevant to your community, safe, and with minimal problems.

Council supports community based events by providing information, advice and access to a range of resources, including an annual community grants program.

What do I need to know know about planning a community event?

When planning a community event, the following process should be followed:

  1. Read the Event Management Guide (PDF, 5MB) to ascertain what will be involved.
  2. Discuss your idea with others to gain support, and to put together a working group or committee.
  3. Decide on some of the basic structures of your event, and how you intend to fund it.
  4. Proceed through your planning, obtaining the necessary permissions (including COVID-19 Safe Event Plan Recommendation: Submit this plan to Business Tasmania as early as possible).
  5. At least one month prior to the event, download and submit an Event Application Pack (PDF) or alternatively complete the application pack online.

The Event Management Guide is a practical reference and source of ideas. It is not meant to provide exhaustive information, and should be used in conjunction with the Devonport City Council Event Application Pack.

You can find further tools including an event marketing plan, budget template and sponsorship planning tool at the Cradle Coast Authority website.

Some of the ways Council can support Community driven events are:

Temporary Event Signage

Council has approved a number of locations in Devonport suitable for displaying temporary event advertising signage. You must complete the Temporary Event Signage Application Form and obtain approval to advertise your event. The Temporary Event Signage Online Application Form must be received a minimum of one month prior to your event.

A maximum three signs are permitted at each location at one time. Approved locations for Temporary Event Signage in Devonport.

Advertising on highways in Tasmania falls is managed by the Department of State Growth, this includes the Bass Highway in Devonport. Please visit the Department of State Growth website for information on advertising your community event.

Place of Assembly

As part of your event, you may require a Place of Assembly licence. A Place of Assembly is defined under the Public Health Act 1997

as a mass outdoor public event, where ‘mass’ means one thousand people or more, present for two hours or more, and ‘public event’ includes, but is not limited to, any performance, exhibition, pageant, regatta, sports event, dance, publicly advertised lecture, festival, market, ‘Carols by Candlelight’ and agricultural show.

Your Place of Assembly application must also include a Smoke Free Management Plan approved by the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services. Your Place of Assembly licence will not be granted without this approval.

You can find the Place of Assembly application form included in the Event Application Pack, as well as in the Online Event Application Form. The Smoke Free Management Plan Guidelines and Plan template can be found on the Department of Health Website.

For further information or advice, you can contact Council’s Environmental Health team on 03 6424 0511.