North Byron Parklands, home of Splendour in the Grass and Falls festivals, is up for sale. News of the sale was first circulated by SMH (Nine).
SMH reports that ‘expectations are around $35 million’ for the 229-hectare freehold Wooyung property.
One of the shareholders, Brandon Saul, confirmed with The Echo the SMH report, saying, ‘Given the state of the festival industry, a sale was kind of inevitable’.
When asked who the owners were, he replied there are 28 shareholders.
He said, ‘The owners are a collection of friends, colleagues and music lovers that came together to secure the site when it became clear that we needed a permanent home for both Splendour in the Grass and the Falls Festival. Secret Sounds and Live Nation have never had an interest in the property’.
‘Personally, I think the loss to our festival industry is, on balance, a loss for the Shire, but ultimately the decision wasn’t up to us.
Culturally significant
‘I fell in love with the area when I came to check out the Bluesfest (which I still love) way back in the ’90s and I think a lot of people out there have been drawn to the area for similar reasons. Culturally, I think festivals, all the way back to the Aquarius Festival, are a really important part of what has made this area so special and I think it’s unfortunate that we’ll be losing some of that’.
When asked what will happen with the site, Brandon said, ‘That won’t be up to us. That said, the property comes with DA approval for a large health retreat/wellbeing facility’.
Mr Saul said, ‘Personally, I think that would be a great addition to the area, but it would also suit a whole variety of alternative uses… a school, an equestrian facility maybe? [it could be] a solar farm or data facility – the property sits astride the backbone of the internet between Brisbane and Sydney’.
‘It could also be used for rural residential lifestyle lots. Maybe a combination of all of the above? Ultimately, it will be up to whoever buys the site’.
While many music lovers will be sad to see the end to the festivals, a group of residents who fought hard to protect the site welcomed the news.
Conservation Of North Ocean Shores (CONOS) said in a statement they have been ‘active protectors of the natural environment and First Nations archeological sites for more than 25 years’.
Biodiverse region
Representative Richard Whitling told The Echo, ‘We are extremely happy to see that the Yelgun mega-festival site is up for sale’.
‘This is one of the most biodiverse regions in Australia, containing around 50 threatened fauna species and endangered plant communities.
‘The failure of the festival enterprise is a win for the environment. The site sits in the middle of the last major wildlife corridor connecting the World Heritage hinterland with the coastal forests.
‘Numerous First Nations archeological sites have been found throughout the locality.
‘CONOS have been faced with a string of environmentally unsuitable developers/owners over the years, from Allan Bond, to Chum Vidgen, to North Byron Parklands (current site owners).
‘We hope to see someone with environmental sensitivity purchase the site.
‘The site is zoned mostly agricultural, with state government approvals for mega festivals.
‘We don’t think those approvals on the floodplain will be transferable to a new owner’.
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