Cr Kat Bennett’s push for circuses featuring exotic animals such as lions, tigers, monkeys and elephants to be banned from using council land such as a long-term venue on the Lincoln Causeway was first raised from left-field in July.

She used the justification of “growing local community concern” of the use of exotic animals as entertainment at circuses as the catalyst for an investigation into a ban from using land.

The matter returned to council this week when a report was presented to councillors without a staff recommendation, but pointing out potential pitfalls for the council’s own children’s fair, horse race meetings, rodeos and cattle exhibitions – all involving exotic animals according to the Wikipedia definition used in this instance and all staged on council-owned land.

But with the backing of mayor Anna Speedie, Cr Danny Lowe and Cr Libby Hall, the council rammed through a motion halting the use of council-owned land for circuses and carnivals that involve the performance of exotic animals.

A vocal opponent to the move Cr Ron Mildren has rightly pointed out the motion’s unintended consequences with the addition of the word “carnival”.

The children’s fair, Wodonga Gold Cup race meeting, annual cattle exhibitions, which all generate major economic activity in the city, have been drawn into the “catch-all” net of the policy and left the hard-working volunteers and organisers behind these events in limbo land.

Cr Speedie raised a follow-up formal policy framework which would clarify the definitions, but how long that takes is anyone’s guess.

Late on Wednesday the council attempted to regain control of the worsening situation when it announced a rescission motion into the decision had been lodged and would be considered at its December meeting.

It suspends implementation of this week’s motion in a commonsense move.