Narrandera Shire Council will enter into a short-term licence with the Barellan Working Clydesdales Association Incorporated for the use of a Crown Reserve 87306 for a period of 62 days from 12.01am Friday 1 September until 11.59pm Friday 31 October.

The purpose is to accommodate ‘overflow caravan and camping activities’ for the 2026 Barellan Good Old Days event.

Narrandera Shire Council is the appointed Crown land manager.

The ‘Good Old Days’ festival has gone from strength-to-strength since the first event in 2010 and this year’s festival is expected to attract similar numbers to the 2025 event.

After the application was received by council and considered by its executive leadership team a meeting was held with a representative of the BWCAI on 22 April.

These discussions were considered very beneficial in that council staff were provided with an insight into why the additional area was required and why the event was not able to be accommodated wholly within the Barellan Showground.

Consultation commenced early May and concluded 5 June with correspondence issued by post, email and an information sheet, and advertised via Council’s website and social media.

At the end of the consultation period, two submissions were received – one from C Eldridge supporting the proposal as it was socially and financially beneficial to the entire Narrandera Shire.

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council confirmed that a claim was undetermined.

It has undertaken an assessment at ‘desktop level’ and stated that the licence agreement that the ‘licence will terminate upon determination (and granting) of a Claim’, proposal would not likely impact the land and the undetermined Claim.

The NSWALC suggested that council also consult with the Leeton District Aboriginal Land Council. This occurred at the start of the consultation phase with no submission received.

The NSWALC suggested that council include a clause within that a Native Title assessment has been undertaken with the determination being that ‘Subdivision L’ would apply as the ‘future act’ activity is low impact and temporary in purpose.

It is not proposed to seek any financial income from the Barellan Working Clydesdales Association Incorporated provided that the land held under the short-term licence is managed in accordance with the conditions imposed through the licence document and the development application.

The proposal was widely promoted using council’s website and available social media resources

Council’s resolution will also be applied to the short-term licences for the 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 events