Historical battle scenes will be re-enacted at the Otago-Taieri A and P Showgrounds this weekend, but they will be missing one characteristic war sound - gunfire.
Organisers have decided there will be no live firing at a military show fundraiser for the Mosgiel RSA at the showgrounds, after neighbours became concerned the noise would spook horses in the area.
Neighbours said they became aware of the show only last week and called a meeting with the organisers at which they called for the show to be moved to another venue.
HQ44 South military collectors club president, Ed Davies, of Green Island, said the club respected the concerns of the neighbours and horse owners in the area, and as a result had decided not to allow any live firing, of any sort, at the event.
Guns would still be used, but they might produce puffs of smoke instead of loud bangs.
Unfortunately, it was simply too late for them to arrange another venue, he said, and they felt this arrangement was the best solution to allow the event to proceed and accommodate the concerns of residents.
''The . . . show is an important fundraising event for the Mosgiel RSA and their building extensions. We not only want to pay tribute with the displays we have to those service people, including New Zealanders, who made the ultimate sacrifice in world wars, but we also believe this is a very worthwhile cause. and we want it to go ahead so the community can support the RSA.''
He said the change should not affect the show significantly and everything, from battle, machinery and service group displays to stalls and rides, would go ahead as planned, only slightly quieter.
Charlotte Young said she and other residents were pleased there would be no live firing, but felt bad for HQ44 South and the Mosgiel RSA.
''We don't want to rain on their parade and our sympathies go to them.''
Their main concern was that the A&P society committee took the environment surrounding the showgrounds into consideration when hiring out the showgrounds.
She and others had been disappointed to learn many members of the committee appeared unaware of what events were being put on at the venue, she said.
They hoped the committee would take the neighbourhood's concerns on board in the future.
A&P society committee member Steven Quin said the society employed someone to deal with venue bookings and was not always aware of what events had been booked.
In this case there had been a problem, which was now resolved.
The society would ensure this particular situation did not happen again.
It was conscious of the venue's neighbours and liked to do what it could to support local groups' activities, especially fundraisers, he said.
