The council that stole Christmas: Permit change kills beloved neighbourhood party

The annual family-friendly Christmas gathering on this Northcote street is a highlight of the calendar for its residents, featuring a pot luck lunch, a piñata and a much-anticipated water fight.

But Darebin City Council’s decision to begin charging hundreds of dollars for small-scale events could spell the end of the much-loved gathering.

Sarah Goss and husband Pete have lived in their Northcote home for more than a decade and look forward to the Christmas party, which predates their moving to the suburb.

The party was previously lodged in advance with Darebin City Council through its free “street party program” – meaning the road could be temporarily closed and suitable insurance could be organised. But when Sarah went to apply this year, she was surprised to find the program no longer existed.

Small-scale events that would have previously qualified for the council’s no-cost program now require a full-priced event permit, after the scheme was suddenly axed for the 2026-27 financial year.

The change means council regulations and red tape will now jeopardise many long-standing festive traditions during the Christmas period.

“I think it’s a really sad loss. We know that there are many streets in our area that made the most of this … I think it’s a loss for all of them,” Sarah said.

“It’s not a commercial event … It’s kids running amok under a sprinkler and a hose, and adults bringing out a plate and sitting round and connecting.”

The City of Darebin fee schedule lists the permit application price for a medium event as $281.88 and a large event as $563.75. Additionally, a one-day road closure permit made more than five days in advance costs between $215.38 and $756.45, depending on the size of the road and the length of time it’s closed.

Council event permits also require documentation including an event management plan, risk management plan and site map.

Sarah said the complicated permit system and high costs were both prohibitive for their street party. While one option would be to move to a nearby public park, Sarah said this was infeasible for elderly or immobile neighbours.

“It’s not inclusive if everyone can’t access it … it becomes a very different style of event,” she said.

A council spokesperson said the street party program was discontinued during discussions for the latest budget, which was formally adopted in June.

Residents could still apply to hold an event on their street, the spokesperson said, but a permit is required and fees apply.

“An allocation was made to enable fees to be waived for faith communities, LGBTQIA+ and multicultural organisations seeking to close roads to run community street festivals. Details on how to apply will be shared soon,” the spokesperson said.

The Goss’ neighbour, Myra Holmes, said the axing of the free permit program was a loss for the wider Darebin community and much more significant than simply losing a Christmas party.

She said the annual gathering had helped foster a community on her street where residents mow other people’s lawns, put their neighbours’ bins away and greet each other in the driveway.

“You just feel really connected … and there’s also a sense of feeling safe in this community. That you can call on your neighbour if you needed to,” Holmes said.

“The council should be supportive of this kind of event … if they want to have an inclusive and safe kind of community within Darebin.”

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