Kathy Norley (Echo, 14Jan) thinks that she speaks for the north of the Shire, but she does not.
Nobody complained about any noise from the Splendour Festival, which had twice as many patrons as the Falls Festival, and the camping on the site was extensive and free, so why would any patrons bother to camp away from provided amenities, free fresh water, healthy entertainment, beautiful natural surroundings, good company and great music?
There were patrons from 18 to 70+ at the Falls Festival, and everyone, including the older generations like me, thoroughly enjoyed the three days. We went to enjoy the music (no head-banging noise) and the young people were polite and inclusive, sitting down with us and chatting about music now and when we were adolescents. They even invited us to jive with them! Everyone had a fabulous time dancing, enjoying the music and the great vibe.
The promoters provided a locally manned information stand at the Falls and regular bus transport to ferry any patrons across the Shire if they chose to visit places of interest… and they did, in droves! Buses coming out in the daytime were full to the brim, and local businesses that opened did very well from South Golden, New Brighton, Billinudgel, Ocean Shores and everywhere between here and Byron, and the only traffic congestion was in Byron as usual.
We have a landline and had no trouble with the phone or computer, Kathy. Being obstructive and scaremongering towards projects that provide good, healthy entertainment for the community, like great music events, skate parks, sports fields and swimming pools, won’t endear you to the locals.
PS: Congratulations to the hard-working and persistent Bangalow committee who finally achieved their new Bangalow Skate Park!
Tina Petroff, president, Ocean Shores Tidy Town Team
OMG! Tina P and her friends ‘jiving’ at Falls and Splendour! And she’s now spokesperson for the people of the north and no other community organisation should say anything? Lets mention her often failed attempts to be popularly elected to local council – a measure of her popularity. It takes a ‘special’ kind of ‘born & breed’ local to fail to understand the significance of the natural and cultural environment where these festivals are being TRIALLED. How can someone like her who claims to be a ‘real’ environmentalist ignore this factor? Well, we are used to it up north folks.
As usual, anyone who doesn’t agree with the protest position is subjected to torment and ridicule. I was at the Falls Festival and while I missed the opportunity to Jive with Tina, the rest of the festival was a complete success. Locals I’ve been talking to, both young and young at heart, considered the Falls Festival layout to now be “the premier site in the shire’ with its natural amphitheaters and laid-back atmosphere. Kids were proud of living in the North and had there homes full of family and friends. It takes a ‘special’ kind of ‘Environmentalist’ to completely ignore the environmental and cultural benefits to the property and community while spreading misinformation. Hopefully I’ll catch up with Tina for a Jive or a Boogie next festival. Call it what you like, as long as you can let your hair down and enjoy yourself occasionally. Sounds like TinaFanNot could do with some.
There were major issues with mobile telecommunications across the area. I know of people in Ocean Shores and Brunswick Heads who had no phone service or internet for lengthy periods of time. Very frustrating when you are trying to run a business and need to contact clients who only have mobile numbers or you have no landline and no other way to contact anyone.
Due to the terrible public amenities in Brunswick Heads, local businesses had hundreds of festival goers wanting to use their toilet facilities, often without purchasing anything. It would be interesting to know how local businesses coped with the amount of people in town in regards to being able to supply these extra numbers adequately on top of the regular holiday crowds.
This festival was much better organised than Splendour, but there are quite a few kinks that need to be ironed out, especially regarding traffic and noise for Yelgun residents.