Around 120 people packed the South Golden Beach Community Centre on Saturday (February 4) to express their concerns at North Byron Parklands’ (NBP) intention to be declared a state significant development and a permanent music festival site.
The SGB Community Association hosted the meeting, during which attendees ‘expressed anger and dismay at Parklands’ plans to double the number of festival days, increase attendance to 50,000 per day, and be able to increase both in future,’ according to vice president Denise Nessel.
‘Residents were also disturbed to learn that if the proposal is approved by the state, Byron Shire Council will have no say in the site’s operation,’ Ms Nessel said.
‘All were surprised to learn that council has not received funds from Parklands during the current trial and may get little to none under permanent approval as a state-run site,’ she added.
Ms Nessel said Parklands GM Mat Morris and other Parklands employees attended and answered a few questions before the meeting voted that they leave ‘so that residents could more freely voice their opinions.’
Byron’s deputy mayor Basil Cameron, independent Cr Cate Coorey, and Greens Cr Sarah Ndiaye attended and responded to questions, as did Tweed deputy mayor Chris Cherry.
Ms Nessel said the general feeling of the meeting was that the proposal is not in the best interests of the community and that the council needs to support residents and speak out strongly against it.
The next step in the process is for the Department of Planning to put the proposal on public exhibition, together with its recommendations. The minister, or a delegated authority, will make the determination.
GM answers questions
Echonetdaily put the following questions to Parklands GM Mat Morris. His responses are published unedited below.
Is it true North Byron Parklands is seeking to be a State Significant Development as a permanent music festival site?
Under the current planning laws, any regional development with a proposed capital value of more than $30m must be referred by Council to the Department of Planning and Environment. There is no choice in the matter.
Is there a proposal for it to be “50,000 patrons per day, and be able to increase in future”?
Yes, as per the original approval submitted in 2010, Parklands is seeking approval for 12 event days of between 25,000 and 50,000 patrons. The two existing events (Splendour and Falls) currently utilise 8 of these days, leaving the possibility of an additional event. It should be noted that under the existing trial approval Parklands has had the right to host a third event, however this has never been enacted reflecting the market realities of events in Australia. The requested remaining 8 days would be for events under 25,000. As one example of such events, Parklands is currently negotiating with a group to bring a running event with 2,000-3,000 participants to the venue.
Is this correct – “All were surprised to learn that Council has not received funds from Parklands during the current trial and may get little to none under permanent approval as a state-run site.”
Parklands has always paid Council fees in relation to compliance matters that fall under its jurisdiction such as food vendor inspections, waste water, etc. In relation to the State Significant Development Parklands will be required to pay a S94 development contribution.
You previously said that North Byron Parklands contributed to a roundabout and that as the festival site has onsite sewage, it creates less impacts.
Parklands pays approximately $20,000 per annum in rates yet has no connections to Council water and sewerage systems and receives no waste, recycling or organics services. In 2014, Parklands secured Council approval for an environmental award winning composting toilet system (246 composting toilets) and greywater treatment plant which manages over 90 per cent of all wastewater and sewage onsite. The remaining wastewater goes to Byron STP under a fee-paying license. This is probably one of the most sustainable systems for outdoor venues in Australia. Parklands has worked with Council and provided funding for the newly installed roundabout adjacent to the Yelgun interchange in addition to sealing sections of local roads for residential amenity purposes.
With council crying poor and a 7.5 per cent rate rise approved, why would North Byron Parklands pursue an avenue where Council cannot receive contributions as the delegated authority?
Our advice is that the SSD would attract S94 contributions payable directly to Byron Shire Council.
And finally – would North Byron Parklands consider a special levy on tickets to contribute to council?
A $1 per ticket levy has been in place since the first event held at North Byron Parklands with 100 per cent of these funds distributed to community and environmental groups predominantly located in the north of the Shire. In the past 3 and ½ years Parklands and the two events have distributed $194,500 to local groups. I am not sure there is another organisation, government or otherwise that has provided similar support to such groups and organisations in the north of the Shire.
Parklands is holding its own community meeting about the proposal on Sunday February 12 , from 4.00pm – 5.30pm at North Byron Parklands. Please enter via North Byron Parklands’ Southern Carpark, at 126 Tweed Valley Way, and follow signage.
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