Two organisers of an illegal doof held at Rocky Creek Dam earlier this year have been fined $6000 by the Lismore City Council.
The illegal dance party, called Pretty Vibes and attended by about 100 people, was held on the Mother’s Day weekend in May in a public reserve area of the dam.
Following complaints from the public, police attended the party to investigate concerns that included the levels of intoxication among revellers, public urination, and the party being at odds with the public usage of the reserve.
Following a review of the evidence and an assessment that the organisers had breached the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act and received financial gain, the two organisers, aged 20 and 25, were fined $3000 each.
‘NSW Police have been actively working to take action in response to illegal doof parties, and have sought assistance from local government in this instance,’ the council’s development and compliance manager Peter Jeuken said.
‘The breaches of the Act were reviewed against the council’s enforcement policy and associated guidelines.
‘The seriousness of the breach was considered high because of the potential harm to individuals attending the event, that the offence occurred on public lands and harmed the use of those lands by other sectors of the community, and that the breach was motivated by financial gain.
‘It was important to impose a penalty that was proportionate to the seriousness of the offence, sets a proper precedent for future cases and is consistent with the intent and objectives of the legislation.”
Senior Constable David Henderson from the Richmond Local Area Command Crime Management Unit said the council’s actions sent a clear message to doof operators that there were consequences for illegal activities.
“It’s important that we send clear and unambiguous messages about this kind of illegal behaviour,’ Sen Const Henderson said.
‘These operators have every opportunity to do the right thing and gain necessary approvals for their activities. If they do not, then there is a consequence,’ Senior Constable Henderson said.
‘We appreciate council’s decisive action in this matter. It is a step in the right direction to ensuring we only see events that are safe for people attending as well as the wider community.’
Good. Bunch of brain dead imbeciles high on ecstasy should all be fined and carted of f to jail for a spell. It shows their parents have cultivated a generation of morons.
Bob, that’s a completely misinformed reaction that you’re vomiting from your couch in front of your television. If you don’t have anything educational to say, then don’t say anything.
That’s great but I think they should also make them do community service so they can learn just how much it takes to keep a community together. Get them cleaning the streets, or the beachfronts. Also I do hope this sets a precedent for the courts to throw the book at the people who have been doing this at Tallows Beach… complete with huge speakers, booze, driving cars into the reserves, crapping on the lake edges etc. Impound their equipment, fine them huge fines and also get them to do community service. These people show absolutely no regard for the environment, the community, or the wildlife. They do it for the money and are despicable!
Una, what exactly is it that you do for ‘the community’?
I attend these kinds of events, i also work my behind off dueing the week, in the disabilities sector. What solution are you sugfesting for me, who, by your standards, help ‘to hold a community together’
Put your blanket away darling, you dont know everyone that goes to these events. If you eant to know why we do it then ask questions, dont assume that everything that this community does is bad and evil. Change the channel, or even netter turn the television off.
Well done but, it should have beed 60 000 or 6 months or both !
And I hope they do the same to the organisers of the doof in Arawkwal NP .
Bastards!
I know nothing of the party or the organizers. But as a grown up (well sort of), professional and mother, I still believe people should be allowed to party. And getting council approval is totally over regulated and over priced. Just because people want to dance does not make them useless, drug addicted dole bludgers. I went to a party that was ‘illegal’ not log ago and it was one of the best experience I have ever had. People were respectful, cleaned up, had fun… you all seem to enjoy a lot of Schadenfreude here, which I find sad.
The organisers need to be educated, not punished, as do the people who attend these parties. A lot of these parties are where positive change stems from, if they’re done properly. They need to understand about sustainability, environmental impact of the natural environment and the local community and the opportunity they have to create a gathering that pulls focus away from drugs and alcohol and towards community and fun without destroying themselves. Punishment alone does very little. They’ll keep doing these parties the same without the proper input, support, and guidance. Not a watchful eye of authority. When are councils going to wake up to this? Stop looking after your property developers and start looking after all aspects of community. Especially the young. They have so much to offer, but their best interests are being ignored in favour of tourism and profit. So, don’t be so quick to point the finger and cast judgements.