The recent fine imposed on the Splendour festival organisers is a validation for the community.
Even though the $3000 fine is paltry, this is a message to every person out there that had to put up with the noise from the Splendour in the Grass that the Department of Planning (DOP) recognises it is not okay and NBP will be penalised if they cannot control the noise.
In terms of applying to increase the noise limits, it would be very hard for the DOP to legally justify any increase after a documented 163 complaints mostly regarding the noise for the last event (and that’s just the people who could get through on the complaints line that was also found to need improvement by the department).
The introduction of a limit to the bass noise is very welcome. Let’s see if this can reduce the severe noise impact on the community and then we can talk about proposed increases in upper limits. The community deserves a fair go on this.
Approving an increase in upper limits now would be putting the cart before the horse.
Chris Cherry, Wooyung (former community rep on the regulatory working group for the overseeing of the festival site)
