Thousands of young people have flocked to Byron shire for this weekend’s sold-out Splendour in the Grass Festival at Yelgun’s North Byron Parklands.
It is the second time the big event has been held at its purpose-built base at Yelgun and this year organisers hope the wet weather and traffic problems which plagued last year’s festival will be absent.
Today, tomorrow and Sunday, around 27,000 people a day are expected to go through the gates to see award-winning performers from all over the world such as Outkast, and some of Australia’s best, including the Hilltop Hoods.
Police patrols to curb anti-social behaviour will as usual be part of the festival community for the weekend, and surf lifesaving authorities have warned people to take care on the local beaches.
Festival co-producer Jessica Ducrou told media many of the niggly problems of last year had been ironed out and punters could expect a great musical and performance feast with a top lineup of artists.
One of the headlining acts from the UK, London Grammar, has cancelled due to illness and replaced with up-and-rising electronica act, the Presets.
For further info on the festival and program visit splendourinthegrass.com.
When Splendour’s Q&A session asked for questions to be put to the festival organisers and Sen Scott Ludlam, we sent the following (or course our questions were too hot for them to use):
“Q. Given that this festival site dissects an important wildlife corridor with more than 50 threatened species in the locality: Why wasn’t another less sensitive (and less expensive) site chosen in NSW for large-scale festivals?
Q. Are you aware that prior to this site being used recently for festivals, the state government had spent about $4 million on this area for a wildlife highway overpass and 4 underpasses and diverted the highway route around this site?
Q. Are you aware that this site’s environmental and Aboriginal heritage values were protected as a result of two NSW Government Commission of Inquiries (1990 & 1997). If you know this then how can it be ethically acceptable to Splendour In The Grass organisers that this site will be holding more and more festivals and events?
Q. Given that Byron shire is regarded as a part of the biologically hot far north coast: Do you think it is necessary to have two large-scale festival sites, with all their impacts, within Byron Shire and within 15 km of each other?”