John Lazarus, Byron Bay
The federal government has given a modified consent for the development of an event site for Splendour and other events at Yelgun. The feds have modified the consent passed by the NSW Planning Assessment Commission, who modified the consent of the NSW Department of Planning, who modified the application by the developers.
The final consent has rejected the developers’ application for a permanent development and has given a five-year temporary consent; has also eliminated all proposed unlimited minor events; has eliminated event development from some of the site adjacent to the nature reserve; has restricted events to only a part of the year; and has restricted the number of events to three.
The three events will start off at 10, 000, 15,000 and 25,000 in the first year progressing to 20,000, 25,000 and 45,000 in the fifth year, with camping for up to 25,000 accommodated on site. Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads are the nominated parking areas and bus pickup points for the tens of thousands who do not drive to the site.
The destruction of 300 metres of trees and heavy earthworks have commenced in preparation for the removal of a section of the Jones Road ridge, as have the flow of emails to the consent authority (the NSW Department of Planning) regarding absence of Construction Certificates and absence of meaningful protection of the site’s rich Aboriginal cultural heritage. The members of the Coalition For Festival Sanity have had an initial meeting to consider the community’s ongoing response.
While the development application process is finished, the impacts and the community’s responses are just about to start.
Well put, John.
I’m totally amazed that Brunswick Heads and Mullumbimby have been nominated for parking and bus pick-up points.
These two towns don’t have much parking space now. Is North Byron Parklands going to buy land in these towns and develop them into parking areas or do they expect the council’s ratepayers to do this?