Chris Dobney
A Mullum Creek resident says it is a miracle no one was killed or injured during an illegal doof on Saturday night in rough terrain in Mount Jerusalem National Park.
The man, who wrote to Echonetdaily on grounds of anonymity, described the location as ‘dangerous site for nocturnal activities – one small step too far to the cliffs, and you’re gone.’
‘Shame on those who organised it. Those that attended, please think about the impact you have now had on the park and the surrounding people,’ he said.
‘A lovely peaceful site [was] trashed’ and ‘24 hours of penetrating sound waves’ saw ‘locals upset and tourists leaving early,’ he added
The resident also expressed concern about the failure of police to close down the event.
‘Police seem ineffective and understaffed, despite many, many calls for help. Sympathetic, but hey…’
Sergeant Neaves from Tweed Byron Local Area Command told Echonetdaily that officers had ‘issued a noise abatement direction’ which ‘effectively closed down the party’ but that it ‘started up again later on’.
Sgt Neaves said the combination of wet weather and unsafe terrain prevented police from returning.
‘It was a very wet night and the site became inaccessible,’ he said.
NPWS investigating
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Tweed Kyogle Area Manager Damien Hofmeyer said he only learnt of the incident on Monday morning.
‘While we welcome people enjoying their parks, these large unauthorised events cause lots of damage and disturbance to neighbouring residents,’ he said.
‘Large amounts of rubbish were strewn throughout the bush, vegetation was trampled, domestic dogs were brought in, and loud noise for 24 hours impacted on neighbours and native wildlife,’ Mr Hofmeyer added.
‘The roads have sustained substantial damage. Neighbours’ driveways and access roads were blocked by dozens of cars at the site, which would have prevented their exit in the event of an emergency such as an urgent medical condition.’
‘NPWS does not condone this type of party on park. If anyone has any information on the doof held in the national park last weekend, please call 6670 8600. All information will be treated in the strictest of confidence,’ Mr Hofmeyer said.
This fad for 24 hour long “bush doofs” with “penetrating sound waves” is a menace, an intrusion and a nightmare to those of us who choose to live on our quiet blocks in the ranges and valleys of this beautiful area.
Not to mention the danger to the hearing of those attending these “events”, as if I’m concerned really – it’s their choice. But it’s not mine.
Having had to deal with a neighbour the last couple of years who must have a festival-size sound system, who regularly, day or all night, broadcasts what he thinks is music (for me, anxiety-inducing “psy-trance.”)
How would he like it if I responded with the worst music he could think of, at that volume, played to him at any time? Mozart? A Wagnerian opera? Frank Sinatra perhaps? (Sorry Frank, Amadeus!)
Extremely selfish people, obviously on drugs as who could possibly listen for so many hours?
More needs to be done. Higher fines if noise abatement orders are not followed?
I’ve drowned out neighbour’s unpleasantly loud pop music with Mozart and Stravinsky before, I recommend it. I think a Wagnerian opera would also be a great choice. Open your windows, point your speakers in their direction and turn up the volume, we can all be selfish.
OMG not another bush doof in the Northern Rivers! Save us please!
would love to have a chat to Chris Dobney on behalf of the party goers side of things and maybe give the other half of the story. Be great to have a chance for a fair argument/ statement.
Left my email details in the above comment 🙂
What a load of rubbish echo!!
Did anyone die or get hurt??
This is like reporting zero!!!
Its a national park zones for recreation
Some people 4wd some cycle
SOME DANCE
Wow rubbish was left?? How was falls festival and blues?? No rubbish or the locals right?? Or noise!!
Bullshit
They make your houses shake for miles and charge punters 500 for a 4 day pass but that’s ok to bother the entire town!! No worries
But put on a free party because there is no where in this frikken shire designated for people who don’t want to be in bed on the weekend before midnight!!!
Try reporting something more interesting than one idiot who has his first doof and didn’t understand it all
Some of us don’t like dancing indoors surrounded by beer and yobos
Free music is awesome
So if Byron shire has a problem w it
Open up some land where people can hang out safely at night!!
‘Doof in national park ‘could have been a tragedy’’
Well it wasn’t and nor have 99% of all previous ones.
Drunken violence in licensed premises is almost always tragic resulting in Byron Bay’s unsavoury reputation as being a centre for alcohol related violence and sexual assault. Why not report on that or is the Echo too cowardly to piss off its booze-selling advertisers?
The tone of this report is the only other tragedy on an otherwise pleasant day/
Young people having fun resulting in no injuries, harm or fatalities is simply not newsworthy
it is a shame about the rubbish, a real shame, I’m hoping that like back in my home town that the organisers didn’t have room for the rest of the rubbish and are planning on going back and picking every last bit up (just didn’t manage to get there before this photo was take) as I think we should be living by the leave no trace life if we are going to party in beautiful places like this.
Apart from the rubbish I think this article is rubbish.
Have a bit of tolerance people. Some people are just looking for a bit of escape and release from the world we are living in today, just searching for a bit of freedom.