Local institution Ballarat Springfest has been cancelled – another victim of October’s record rainfall.
Operating since 1994 and scheduled for Novemner 27th, necessary changes to this year’s layout have been impeded by sodden ground.
It comes after the Springfest Management Committee was forced to rethink the former market layout when, in April, it was advised a Heritage Overlay was imposed on Lake Wendouree foreshore requiring organisers to get a permit from Heritage Victoria to operate at the site.
The updated market plan was to instead close Wendouree Parade between St Aidans Drive and Carlton Street and have the 550 registered stalls on the road all way along Wendouree Parade and Windmill Drive. However, the recent wet weather required another rethink – although a solution was unable to be found.
Stall spaces were sold out for the 2022 event.
In a statement, the committee said they “have scenario planned multiple different layouts, to work in with the new restrictions, and investigated alternative locations, however none where viable. Keeping in mind the same SpringFest experience we all know and love above the event.”
The Springfest Management Committee plans to bring the market back in 2023, and have confirmed it still plans to go ahead with the Ballarat Carols by Candlelight Market and Online Raffle.
The news comes in the same week it was revealed the Ballarat Swap Meet would not be going ahead in February 2023.
Like Springfest, the Swap Meet was required to find a new site with its lease at Airport Drive coming to and end to make way for a BWEZ expansion, and while that has been known for some time, the next most viable option off Blind Creek Road was also washed out by recent rain.
Image: Ballarat Springfest Facebook
