Plan your own event

Person talking on mobile phone at a desk with laptop and  notebook

Getting started

This section answers your questions about organising and promoting your own community event

  1. Read our event planning information
  2. Contact Council early to discuss your event 
  3. Get your documentation ready
  4. Submit your booking/event request
  5. Pay fees

Things to consider

Event location

Pre-approved event sites

Council offers a number of event spaces that are pre-approved for a variety of events, without the need to apply for a Development Application.

EVENT LOCATION TOILETS AVAILABLE  ACCESSIBLE TOILETS  POWER AVAILABLE 
 Kooyoo Street Mall  Yes Yes Yes
 Griffith Regional Sports Centre Yes Yes Yes
 Griffith Regional Theatre - Burley Griffin Room  Yes Yes Yes
 Griffith Regional Theatre - Auditorium Yes Yes Yes
Other available event sites

(DA may be needed depending on your event)

EVENT LOCATION TOILETS AVAILABLE ACCESSIBLE TOILETS  POWER AVAILABLE 
 Community Gardens  Yes Yes Yes
 Memorial Park  Yes Yes Yes

Visit our online booking platform for a full list of all our bookable venues and their attributes.

Food and alcohol

Food

Many community events provide food either free of charge or offered for sale. 

It's important that Council ensures all food providers meet required regulations and licencing. Food outlets are required to comply with Council's guidelines for handling food at temporary events - see the NSW Food Authority's markets and temporary events webpage to learn more.

 Food Stalls must comply with NSW Food Act 2003, NSW Food Regulation, Food Safety Standards and the NSW Food Authority. Visit the NSW Food Authority's website for full details.

For more information, visit our food businesses page

Alcohol

If you intend to serve alcohol at your event you will need to apply for a Liquor Licence, you can investigate what types of licences are available, and apply for one via the Liquor and Gaming NSW website.

To request temporary removal of an alcohol-free zone area or alcohol prohibited area you will need to make the request to Council, in writing at least three months prior to your event.

Anyone serving alcohol is required to have a current RSA. For more information, please visit the Service NSW website.

Traffic management

The process for approval to hold an event on a public road is complex, but Council's Road Safety Officer can assist applicants with all traffic related aspects in completing your application. If you think your event may require the partial or full closure of roads or have an effect on traffic within the City, it must be noted on your booking request. 

Events that require control of traffic will be considered by Council's Traffic Committee. This process requires a minimum of 12 weeks notice to allow for the meeting schedule of the Committee.

Please contact Council's Road Safety Officer on 1300 176 077.

Risk assessment

You are required to supply a Risk Management Plan that identifies all of the potential risks that may arise from your events and the steps identified to mitigate such risks. External risk are also required to be identified and noted.

Download our Risk Assessment template(PDF, 161KB)

Fireworks and amusements

Fireworks

If you're looking at hosting fireworks at your next event please ensure you have researched and understood the SafeWork NSW explosives and fireworks regulations. Events using fireworks will require a fireworks licence issued by SafeWork NSW and will need to comply with all the conditions set out in the licence.

Permission for fireworks is required from both Council and the landowner.

Amusements

Please note if your event is on Council owned land you are required to clearly mark the location of your amusements on a site map and upload this with your booking request, along with valid Public Liability Certificates of Currency for each operator, as well as Risk Assessments and Safe Work Method Statement for each amusement ride.

Amusement operators are required to operate within the Australian Standards for Amusement Rides and Devises and provide a copy of their public liability insurance with a minimum $20,000,000 cover to Council before the event booking can be confirmed.

Amusement rides can only be setup as part of an organised public event. Due to underground irrigation and other infrastructure, parks and reserves have limited sites available for items that are required to penetrate the ground. A site induction must be conducted prior to setup.


Promote your event 

If you're holding an event, we want to hear about it! Event promotion is one way Council supports events in our city.

We can assist with the promotion of your event by:

  • Listing on our What's On calendar
  • Including in our weekly Council Catchup newsletter (both print and digital)
  • Posting on our social media channels
  • Erecting signage on our City Entrance banners

Apply for grant funding

Our Community Grants Program enables Council and the community to work together to improve the liveability of our City.

To check the eligibility criteria and for full details on the grants available including application open and closing dates, visit our community grants page.


Here to help

We can help with venue selection, provide advice and assistance on scheduling, risk management, development applications, insurance, food safety standards, entertainment, suppliers and more.

Email us: admin@griffith.nsw.gov.au

Call us: 1300 176 077

Come and see us: please call or email ahead to book an appointment.