Upper Hunter Council is encouraging feedback from individuals, businesses and organisations regarding the public holiday arrangements for 2014.

In previous years to mark the Scone Cup a half day public holiday has applied everywhere in the Upper Hunter Shire with the exception of the former Merriwa Shire area.

The council is now asking for comment on the choices available, which include scheduling the public holiday for the Merriwa area on Scone Cup Day or a half-day public holiday should be held on the Friday afternoon of the Merriwa Springtime Show in 2014. Other options are declaring a local event day or having none.

Upper Hunter Mayor, Cr Michael Johnsen said they wanted to know if the community would prefer a half-day public holiday, a part day public holiday (noon to 6pm) or a local event day for the Scone Cup in May.

“A ‘local event day’ is recognised as a day of special significance to the community but does not stop banks or shops from opening or trading,” he said.

“Staff employed within the affected region do not have the automatic right to be absent from work or receive penalty rates.”

Feedback must be received by Friday, 8 November 2013 and can be provided on the Upper Hunter Council website.

If Council decide at their meeting on 25 November 2013 to pursue half-day public holidays or local event days, the request is made to the NSW Minister for Industrial Relations who decides by the end of 2013.