Splendour in the Grass organisers say they’re pleased with the smooth running of the festival at the weekend with ‘dramatic’ improvements to traffic flow, access and facilities paying off for all involved.
They have vowed to continue improving the North Byron Parklands festival/events site at Yelgun to continue producing world-class events there.
After only two Splendours (and The Falls music and arts festival late last year) the site improvements have been praised all round.
Police also expressed approval for both crowd behaviour and the way organisers ran the three-day event, which saw more than 30,000 people attend each day, including around 17,500 ticketholders camping on site.
Parklands manager Mat Morris said, ‘The Splendour team worked hard to address the teething problems from the previous year and the improvement has been dramatic and will only continue to improve’.
‘We’re thrilled that patrons attending the event got to experience the full beauty and versatility of this outstanding venue,’ Mr Morris said.
‘Traffic flows both onsite and offsite worked extremely well with little or no congestion being experienced. After working hard with various government agencies to improve traffic management arrangements, the results were seamless with patrons arriving smoothly.
‘Patrons also utilised the public transport network provided by the event in record numbers adding to the traffic management plan’s success.
‘The event undertook a detailed noise-monitoring program in accordance with the Venue’s Noise Management Plan and acoustic consultants also undertook over 100 noise measurements at local residences throughout the event.
‘Directional wind changes throughout the three days resulted in some locations experiencing sound from the event.
‘The event hotline, community email and acoustic consultants have recorded noise related issues for further analysis post event.
‘The event hotline experienced some technical difficulties and event staff have identified opportunities for future improvement in this area.
‘The Department of Planning and Environment was also in attendance at the event to monitor compliance.’
Over 750 people were surveyed, organisers said, with the ‘overwhelming majority’ concluding that the amenities were some of the ‘best event facilities’ they had experienced at any festival.
Meanwhile, hundreds of patrons got their hands dirty across the weekend by planting 2,000 trees to improve habitat values across the Parklands site.
In the joint program between Parklands, Splendour in the Grass and Brunswick Valley Landcare, endemic trees including dry shrubs and eucalypts were planted in various locations.
Splendour really got it right this year! Thank you to all organisers for obviously working so hard to address previous issues, and creating a truly beautiful event in a gorgeous parkland!
While the organizers tout how smooth everything went this year (no rainfall to cause the quagmires experienced last year might be a factor) – the affect to surrounding residents is still a major problem. Noise issues were horrendous, with people’s windows actually vibrating with the bass. I live in New Brighton, below the tree and hill lines between our village, South Golden Beach, North Ocean Shores, Billinudgel Nature Reserve and the hill therein… Friday night my house was shut up tight (winter weather) and I still heard the throb of bass and music until well after 1 AM – past the shut down point for the major stages. Other friends reported the same problems at Main Arm. Now, I am certified with a significant hearing loss, was not wearing my hearing aids and had a head cold, and STILL heard the noise. I shudder to think of what normal hearing people were suffering. I shudder to think of the suffering of any wildlife located in the sacrosanct (not) nature reserve. Last year the numbers of wildlife fleeing the site to neighbouring areas was well noted. I also awoke to the sound of motorbikes illegally running up and down our so called pristine beach. I attribute that to the influx of visitors. The organizers may be pleased with their event, but it still is a blight on anyone who has to live here, particularly when there are other venues in existence which are not in a sensitive environment. Appalled and dismayed and the lack of respect in aid of chasing the all mighty dollar.