BY OLIVIA GOELDNER
Business executives and some Newcastle Councillors are still not on board with an idea to put a public holiday in place on Show Day, despite the majority of residents coming out in support of the idea.
An astounding 84 percent of the 114 submissions made on the action came out in support of a public holiday. With many saying the holiday would be a reward to Hunter workers, allowing them to celebrate their local area.
Despite the majority approval, some see the March 1st holiday as a risk to local businesses.
One of the opposing figures being Chief Executive of Business Hunter Bob Hawes, who says the public holiday "places serious stress on local businesses over which they have no control".
He believes the holiday will incur additional charges to consumers due to increased wages.
A local event day has been put forward as an alternative, which would allow employers to make decisions about time off and rates individually.
Bob Hawes said this would be a more appropriate option for the region.
"Businesses to a greater extent have a choice... and those who don't wish to participate and don't wish to pay the additional costs that are consequential to a public holiday, aren't exposed to that stress," he said.
Amidst already stressful times with rising inflation and cost-of-living, Newcastle Liberal councillors Callum Pull and Katrina Wark, agree with the alternative.
