Organisers of the three-day Indigo Evolution New Year’s Eve Arts and Music Festival have been summonsed to appear in the NSW Land and Environment Court on 5 February.
The dance party took place on a private property at Busby Flat, Rapville, about two hours away from Byron Bay from December 31 to January 2 despite court orders prohibiting the event.
Richmond Valley Council acting general manager Vaugan Macdonald said evidence collected by council officers showed that around 2000 people attended the event.
‘Neither the police nor the council had the resources to close it down,” Mr Macdonald told Echonetdaily.
‘A hearing date has been set for February and then it is a matter for the court to determine whether the court orders were breached.’
The court orders, which are available to read on the Richmond Valley Council website, list the property owner James William Campbourn as the first respondent, 3rd Eye Productions as the second respondent, and Nathan Joel Rodgers-Falk as the third respondent.
In the days leading up to the event, Nathan Falk posted notices on Facebook saying that he and 3rd Eye Productions were no longer associated with the event, which ultimately ran under the banner of OneMobCollective.
Mr Macdonald said it would be for the court to decide whether Mr Rodgers-Falk and 3rd Eye Productions were still liable.
He said the Richmond Valley Council was not against ‘these types of parties’, but no approvals were sought or given for the Indigo Evolution gathering.
He said the council had made 11th hour application to have the party shut down after being approached by local police who raised concerns.
‘The council is not against these types of parties. This year we approved Rabbits Eat Lettuce and they have received approvals to hold dance parties because they have gone through the proper channels,’ he said.
‘That includes consultations with the police and council, taking into account things like public safety, access, infrastructure and bushfire risks,’ he said.
Mr Macdonald said the council applied to the court for orders against the Indigo Evolution party after being approached by local police voicing concerns.
He said he was unaware of any problems that arose at the party that required police attention.
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