Their pledge follows Council’s decision on Tuesday night to call for expressions of interest in a spring festival on the October long weekend, the traditional Lilac fixture. It would be held in Belmore Park and adjacent streets.

It means it’s open slather for a new event to hop onto the annual calendar.

Councillors also decided to thank the Lilac organisers for their efforts to date and to encourage them to lodge an expression of interest.

But the festival committee’s public officer, Heather Landow is not committing to anything firm just yet. Members will consider the matter in a meeting early next year.

“We knew this would to happen because the general manager (Warwick Bennett) spoke to me about it,” she said.

“The two people who supported it (the motion) told it all, really. They were the two who didn’t want the festival.”

Mrs Landow was referring to Deputy Mayor Bob Kirk and Cr Andrew Banfield who moved and seconded the motion.

At the meeting, Cr Kirk described it as a very fair recommendation, pointing out that the Lilac Festival also had a chance to tender.

After more than 60 years of Lilac Festivals in Goulburn, Mrs Landow said the show would go on.

“There will be a Lilac festival in some form. We just don’t know where yet,” she said.

Council resolved in October, 2013 that a “renewal and injection of enthusiasm for a community based festival was needed.” It also decided to call for expressions of interest to run the event on the long weekend; to withdraw support for the Lilac Festival and monthly markets from the end of 2013; and to call for expressions of interest in CBD markets in a new format.

But only the latter was acted upon. Meantime, new general manager Warwick Bennett allowed the 2013 Lilac Festival to proceed, with council help, ensuring that at least something happened over the long weekend.

“The festival was successful with a very large crowd and fantastic weather,” Mr Bennett wrote in his report.

“I have since had discussions with organisers of the Lilac Festival, in particular (about) the October, 2013 resolution and the need for them to be more open and transparent in their operations.”

Cr Kirk and others were last year frustrated by the committee’s failure to furnish full financial statements. This was part of Council’s conditions for help with the event. It contributes $5000 to the festival annually, including free use of Belmore Park.

Organisers have since lodged the 2014 results, revealing $9,886 income, $9838 expenditure and a $43 profit.

The committee has also told Council that it has no problem with a staff member being a member.

Several councillors have been refused membership in the past. But the committee has also warned Council that the ‘Lilac’ brand cannot be used by any other organisation enlisted to host a spring festival.

Expressions of interest will have to detail the level of Council participation and where profits will be distributed.