By Erin Williams

FESTIVAL organisers have urged Hepburn Shire councillors to reconsider their decision to ban all but "official" flags flying from council-owned buildings.

Speaking after the council's meeting on May 16, ChillOut spokesman Jim Culbertson said the council was "narrow- minded" and "out of touch with the community".

But Mayor Heather Mutimer said she considered the flag protocol "fair, reasonable and well over-due".

The council's decision affects many organisations and festivals and will stop the Rainbow Flag, an internationally recognised symbol of gay pride, being flown from the Daylesford Town Hall, Mr Culbertson said.

"Flying the Rainbow Flag from the town hall does far more than demonstrate council's support of ChillOut to the many visitors to the shire during the festival, which is important - it also reinforces to our local community that

this is a government that values diversity and equality within our community," Mr Culbertson said.

"This is an embarrassment to our entire shire but, in particular, to the large number of gay and lesbian families that live here and the many local gay and lesbian business owners. Regrettably, too, this new ruling will adversely

impact all local festival and major event organisers."

Mr Culbertson said the ChillOut Festival was the largest event in the shire - attracting about 20,000 visitors and delivering more than $6 million in economic flow-on benefit to local businesses.

Hepburn Shire Tourism Advisory committee member Bettina Ralph said the council's decision took the town hall away as a community place.

"If someone had a fundraiser for breast cancer it would be a shame if we couldn't fly pink off the town hall," she said.

Swiss Italian Festa committee member Jenny Beacham said it was important to mark festivals in the shire.

"It's a community building and I hope council reconsider their decision."

Cr Tim Hayes, who disagreed with the council's decision, said he would tried to get the decision overturned at the June 20 council meeting.