SafeWork NSW issued fireworks permits to Chapel Hill Wedding Centre Berambing for two weddings, a fortnight apart in November. The firework events were each about 6 minutes duration.
Chapel Hill was required to notify property owners one week before the events. Instead, they decided to notify the neighbours a month in advance.
About seven property owners objected. The primary objections were that fireworks would distress their animals.
The police broke up a protest demonstration about the fireworks, held at the entrance to Chapel Hill as guests were arriving for the first wedding. The display was held about 10pm that evening for about 6 minutes.
Negative reviews were made on the wedding centre’s Facebook page by protesters and further complaints were lodged with Council, WorkSafe and other agencies involved in the fireworks approval process. The next wedding fireworks was scheduled for two weeks later.
Chapel Hill was contacted by Council on the morning of 21 November 2023 by Cr Mary Lyons Buckett who left a message that a notice of motion to act on fireworks would be made at the Council meeting that evening.
At Hawkesbury Council’s meeting a motion was passed that Council write to SafeWork NSW asking that the permit to hold the second wedding fireworks display at Chapel Hill be revoked, and Council adopt a fireworks policy that Queanbeyan Council has implemented. This motion was approved.
Hawkesbury Council’s new fireworks policy allows for 100mm fireworks to be used for a period of up to 30 minutes. Chapel Hill permit was for smaller 65mm fireworks for 6minutes.
This new policy will allow Council to hold its annual Australia Day fireworks displays at Hanna Park North Richmond, lighting up the night sky above the surrounding lowlands paddocks including horse properties around the polo fields.
The Hawkesbury District Agricultural Society, who annually gather all the areas prized animals together and conduct a firework display above their heads at the Hawkesbury Show don’t have to worry about Council’s new policy either.
After receiving the letter from Hawksbury Council SafeWork NSW withdrew the permit for the second wedding fireworks at Chapel Hill.