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) [1] 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 [2].
When planning a community event, the following process should be followed:
- Read the Event Management Guide(PDF, 5MB) [1] to ascertain what will be involved.
- Discuss your idea with others to gain support, and to put together a working group or committee.
- Decide on some of the basic structures of your event, and how you intend to fund it.
- Proceed through your planning, obtaining the necessary permissions.
- At least one month prior to the event, download and submit an Event Application Pack(PDF, 412KB) [3] or alternatively complete the pack online [4].
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 [5]
Some of the ways Council can support Community driven events are:
- Inclusion of your event on our online Calendar of Events [6].
- Inclusion in our What’s On poster, which is available at our Visitor Information Centre and is posted outside the Devonport Entertainment and Centre.
- Social media promotion via the Devonport Events Facebook [7] page.
- Financial Assistance Scheme: Major, Minor and In Kind Assistance Grants are available.
Event Signage
Council has approved a number of locations in Devonport suitable for displaying temporary event advertising signage. You must complete the below application form and obtain approval to advertise your event. Applications must be received a minimum of one month prior to your event. Application forms can be returned to Council by emailing [email protected] [8] or mailing to PO Box 604, Devonport TAS 7310.
A maximum three signs are permitted at each location at one time.
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 [9] for information on advertising your community event.
Place of Assembly
The Public Health Act 1997 [10] regulates the licensing, operation, use and management of places which are used as ‘places of assembly’. 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.
The Director of Public Health has defined a ‘public event’ as meaning any performance, exhibition, circus, festival, food festival, pageant, regatta, sports event, dance and publicly advertised lecture.
Who needs a Place of Assembly licence?
If you are planning a public event you may require a Place of Assembly – Specific Event licence.
A Specific Event Place of Assembly is registration for a special event or an event which is open to the general public goes for more than two (2) hours and more than a thousand people are likely to attend.
If you are having food at your event you may also require registration as a Temporary Food Business(PDF, 230KB) [11], or if you require information on Smoke Free Guidelines click here [12].
For further information or advice you can contact Council’s Environmental Health Department on 03 6424 0511.