Bluesfest asked to trial small events, again

If a noise test takes place in the woods, but nobody knows it’s happening, does it still make a sound?

The answer, according to Byron Council, is ‘no’… Well, at least insofar as the recent noise testing undertaken at the Bluesfest site is concerned.

Bluesfest organisers came to Council’s meeting last week, asking for permission to run up to 100 small, amplified events per year at the event’s home in Tyagarah. 

In making the application, the Blues crew said they had jumped over all the required hurdles as set out in their 2014 Development Application (DA).

This included conducting six small, amplified events, which would be used as trials to determine whether the noise levels were disturbing to the surrounding environment and those living nearby.

They provided evidence from the trials to support their argument that amplified music does not have a detrimental impact on the surrounding area. 

Council staff found this to be compelling evidence, and recommended that the small events application be approved.

The only problem was that, with one exception, nobody told the neighbours that the trials were taking place, or how they could provide feedback afterwards.

‘This is a very clear-cut case of not following procedures,’ Tyagarah resident, Kath Morgan, told last week’s Council meeting.

‘We’re just asking that Bluesfest be required to stick to the agreement – that they have proper trials, that they notify us, and that we’re allowed to give feedback.’

All but one – Cr Alan Hunter – voted in favour of a motion by councillor Duncan Dey (Greens), under which Bluesfest will be required to conduct five further small trial events, and to tell neighbours when they are happening.

They will then have to come back to Council with the results and reapply for permission to run small events. 

‘They’re saying there was no feedback, but we don’t even know who to give feedback too. It all feels like an episode of Utopia to be honest.’

Councillors agreed, all but one – Cr Alan Hunter – voted in favour of a motion by Greens councillor Duncan Dey, under which Bluesfest will be required to conduct five further small trial events, and to tell neighbours when they are happening.

They will then have to come back to Council with the results and reapply for permission to run small events.

‘I hope that from here on in there’s a better following of process,’ Cr Dey said.

‘Hopefully the trials do take place, people are notified, and there’s more of a collaborative result.’