Message from Splendour In The Grass organisers
Greetings much loved Splendour Member,
It’s time to start getting excited about this year’s massive weekend of
music and festivities. Stay tuned to your email and the Splendour
newsletters and website for updates about this year’s Splendour Member
process and pre-release ticket sales. This info will be on it’s way
shortly... until then though we have a favour to ask.
As a Splendour Member and long time attendee and supporter of Splendour
in the Grass, we're contacting you today to ask for your help.
Please help us to keep Splendour in the Grass in the Byron Shire and
to retain a vibrant arts community. The Byron Shire Council Draft
Events Policy has gone on public exhibition and submissions close on March 19. If you can write a letter objecting to the Draft Events Policy this will greatly assist. There is background information below that you can use to write your letter or email.
As Splendour nears its tenth anniversary the festival’s future in Byron
Shire faces uncertainty. Byron Shire Council’s Draft Events Policy and
Draft Event Guidelines place so many restrictions upon events that not
only would Splendour in the Grass be unable to operate within the
policy, but the number of small community based events would significantly decrease.
Further, the creativity and originality that is a vital part of the
fabric of this region would be so tightly controlled that we will lose
many of our artists, performers and associated event professionals.
For starters, this policy dictates that there should be only two "large amplified music events" in Byron Shire.
To us, this is a knee-jerk reaction based on both large events once
having taken place in Byron Bay town itself. That will no longer be the
case and, as such, no such restriction is required when there is the
potential for alternative event sites OUTSIDE Byron Bay town.
The capacity for events at those sites should be based on quantifiable
factors such as camping space on site, carparking space on site,
proximity to major roadways, and the number of available beds
(including campgrounds) within a set radius of the site. Instead, an
arbitrary figure of 16,500 has been plucked out of the air with no
basis or explanation as to how it was determined.
Beyond that, Splendour was already operating with a council-approved
capacity of 17,500. Again, no explanation is given as to why there is a
need to reduce that figure, which has applied for some years now, and
which does not take into account the superior site characteristics of
North Byron Parklands.
The policy also restricts the times of year that events can be held. In particular, it proposes excluding the entire summer holiday period for the whole
of Byron Shire. Yes, Byron town is nuts around New Year. We don't want
to put on a festival in town at that time, but we don't see why it
can't be an option at North Byron Parklands, with plenty of camping
space on site, great road access and parking etc, not to mention about
1000 beds and a number of campgrounds within easy reach on the Tweed
Coast, not to mention the southern Gold Coast.
As you may be aware, in response to the Draft Events Policy Splendour
in the Grass recently made the difficult decision to temporarily
relocate to Woodford for the 2010 tenth anniversary event. Byron Shire
is the home of Splendour. Not only do the organizers and staff live
here but Byron Shire is home to North Byron Parklands, the 660 acre
site proposed as a sustainable event venue that would become
Splendour’s new home.
The annual economic contribution of Splendour in the Grass to the
region is conservatively estimated at $7 million. Premier Anna Bligh
estimated that Splendour would contribute approximately $13 million
annually to the Queensland economy (based on Woodford’s 30,000 capacity
compared with Belongil Fields’ 17,500 capacity as well as a three day
event at Woodford compared with two days at Belongil Fields).
In summary, the issues that we have with the draft policy are:
1.0 2.6
- Any organization seeking Council’s support must ensure that events
or festivals do not adversely impact upon the traditional tourist peaks
of Christmas and Easter.
Whilst North Byron Parklands has no intention of hosting an event at
Easter, avoiding the entire summer school holiday period is not seen to
be practical or necessary. Parklands’ 660 acre site provides space for
car parking for the majority of festival patrons for a large event. A
comprehensive transport management plan would ensure that patrons are
provided with frequent shuttle bus services to and from the site
servicing a network of bus stops throughout the Northern Rivers and the
Gold Coast. Such a service will significantly reduce private vehicle
traffic associated with the event.
2.0 2.7 – Council supports only two large events (ie up to 16,500 patrons) annually, as well as a number of smaller type events and festivals.
North Byron Parklands is proposed as a sustainable event venue.
Sustainable for the environment, for the local community and
sustainable as a business venture. The site is not sustainable as a
business venture with only one large event (Splendour in the Grass)
annually.
Having said this, the site’s superior characteristics in terms of noise
mitigation, traffic management and environmental opportunities mean
that any negative impact on the local community will be minimal. Our
proposal for a trial event was so that we could demonstrate this.
The proposal for Parklands is for up to twelve days of major events
(over 10,000 people) a year. Splendour in the Grass would occupy three
of these days. The Draft Policy needs to allow for up to nine days of
other major events in the Byron Shire beyond the Blues Festival and
Splendour in the Grass.
3.0 2.7 - Council supports only two large events (ie up to 16,500 patrons) annually, as well as a number of smaller type events and festivals.
Splendour in the Grass is currently approved for 17,500 patrons and is
bursting at the seams with this capacity. The long held vision for
Splendour is to expand the festival to include a broader range of arts
and cultural activities that appeal to a broader demographic. Whilst
young people would still have a sense of ownership of the festival it
would become more attractive and accessible to children as well as
adults over 30 seeking a range of music and arts experiences.
Splendour in the Grass’s $150,000 sponsorship of Splendid (an ideas
laboratory for talented young creative professionals) is a part of this
vision. The demand for the expansion of both arts experiences and
demographic accessibility has been strong for some time yet Belongil
Fields could not accommodate this expansion.
Further, our extensive reports including environmental and traffic
reports clearly demonstrate that the North Byron Parklands site can
comfortably accommodate well in excess of 17,500 patrons for a camping
event. Whether this be a scout jamboree, a music or healing festival.
Capacity should be based on tangible realities such as how much noise
will be generated and how this will be mitigated, how the environment
will be affected and how this will be managed, how much additional
traffic will be generated and how this will be managed, etc. We have
done our homework. We are not asking for favours, we are asking that
the extensive analysis undertaken be considered in a practical light.
Please write a letter objecting to the Draft Event Policy so that it is received by Council not later than 19th March.
Letters marked “Attention: Events Policy comments” should be directed to the General Manager Byron Shire Council PO Box 219 MULLUMBIMBY NSW 2482 or by email to council@byron.nsw.gov.au <Letters%20sent:council@byron.nsw.gov.au>
If you just want to send an email rather than write a letter, here’s
a quick summary you can put into your own words. Please use subject
line: “Events Policy comments”. You will also need to place your name
at the bottom of the email.
The Byron Shire Draft Events Policy places so
many restrictions upon events that not only would large events be
unable to operate within the policy, but the number of small community
based events would significantly decline, reducing the creativity and
originality that is a vital part of the fabric of this region. We would
lose many of our artists, performers and associated event professionals.
The Draft Events Policy needs to allow for:
1.0 Patron capacity to be determined by event site characteristics and holding capacity. Not an arbitrary “16,500” figure.
1.0 Events at North Byron Parklands over the summer period.
2.0 Parklands to operate within its proposed capacity of up to twelve
major event days per year (Splendour in the Grass would occupy three of
these days).
For regular updates, please visit northbyronshireparklands.com.au
Thank you in anticipation of your support. It is very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
The team at Splendour in the Grass
It’s time to start getting excited about this year’s massive weekend of
music and festivities. Stay tuned to your email and the Splendour
newsletters and website for updates about this year’s Splendour Member
process and pre-release ticket sales. This info will be on it’s way
shortly... until then though we have a favour to ask.
As a Splendour Member and long time attendee and supporter of Splendour
in the Grass, we're contacting you today to ask for your help.
Please help us to keep Splendour in the Grass in the Byron Shire and
to retain a vibrant arts community. The Byron Shire Council Draft
Events Policy has gone on public exhibition and submissions close on March 19. If you can write a letter objecting to the Draft Events Policy this will greatly assist. There is background information below that you can use to write your letter or email.
As Splendour nears its tenth anniversary the festival’s future in Byron
Shire faces uncertainty. Byron Shire Council’s Draft Events Policy and
Draft Event Guidelines place so many restrictions upon events that not
only would Splendour in the Grass be unable to operate within the
policy, but the number of small community based events would significantly decrease.
Further, the creativity and originality that is a vital part of the
fabric of this region would be so tightly controlled that we will lose
many of our artists, performers and associated event professionals.
For starters, this policy dictates that there should be only two "large amplified music events" in Byron Shire.
To us, this is a knee-jerk reaction based on both large events once
having taken place in Byron Bay town itself. That will no longer be the
case and, as such, no such restriction is required when there is the
potential for alternative event sites OUTSIDE Byron Bay town.
The capacity for events at those sites should be based on quantifiable
factors such as camping space on site, carparking space on site,
proximity to major roadways, and the number of available beds
(including campgrounds) within a set radius of the site. Instead, an
arbitrary figure of 16,500 has been plucked out of the air with no
basis or explanation as to how it was determined.
Beyond that, Splendour was already operating with a council-approved
capacity of 17,500. Again, no explanation is given as to why there is a
need to reduce that figure, which has applied for some years now, and
which does not take into account the superior site characteristics of
North Byron Parklands.
The policy also restricts the times of year that events can be held. In particular, it proposes excluding the entire summer holiday period for the whole
of Byron Shire. Yes, Byron town is nuts around New Year. We don't want
to put on a festival in town at that time, but we don't see why it
can't be an option at North Byron Parklands, with plenty of camping
space on site, great road access and parking etc, not to mention about
1000 beds and a number of campgrounds within easy reach on the Tweed
Coast, not to mention the southern Gold Coast.
As you may be aware, in response to the Draft Events Policy Splendour
in the Grass recently made the difficult decision to temporarily
relocate to Woodford for the 2010 tenth anniversary event. Byron Shire
is the home of Splendour. Not only do the organizers and staff live
here but Byron Shire is home to North Byron Parklands, the 660 acre
site proposed as a sustainable event venue that would become
Splendour’s new home.
The annual economic contribution of Splendour in the Grass to the
region is conservatively estimated at $7 million. Premier Anna Bligh
estimated that Splendour would contribute approximately $13 million
annually to the Queensland economy (based on Woodford’s 30,000 capacity
compared with Belongil Fields’ 17,500 capacity as well as a three day
event at Woodford compared with two days at Belongil Fields).
In summary, the issues that we have with the draft policy are:
1.0 2.6
- Any organization seeking Council’s support must ensure that events
or festivals do not adversely impact upon the traditional tourist peaks
of Christmas and Easter.
Whilst North Byron Parklands has no intention of hosting an event at
Easter, avoiding the entire summer school holiday period is not seen to
be practical or necessary. Parklands’ 660 acre site provides space for
car parking for the majority of festival patrons for a large event. A
comprehensive transport management plan would ensure that patrons are
provided with frequent shuttle bus services to and from the site
servicing a network of bus stops throughout the Northern Rivers and the
Gold Coast. Such a service will significantly reduce private vehicle
traffic associated with the event.
2.0 2.7 – Council supports only two large events (ie up to 16,500 patrons) annually, as well as a number of smaller type events and festivals.
North Byron Parklands is proposed as a sustainable event venue.
Sustainable for the environment, for the local community and
sustainable as a business venture. The site is not sustainable as a
business venture with only one large event (Splendour in the Grass)
annually.
Having said this, the site’s superior characteristics in terms of noise
mitigation, traffic management and environmental opportunities mean
that any negative impact on the local community will be minimal. Our
proposal for a trial event was so that we could demonstrate this.
The proposal for Parklands is for up to twelve days of major events
(over 10,000 people) a year. Splendour in the Grass would occupy three
of these days. The Draft Policy needs to allow for up to nine days of
other major events in the Byron Shire beyond the Blues Festival and
Splendour in the Grass.
3.0 2.7 - Council supports only two large events (ie up to 16,500 patrons) annually, as well as a number of smaller type events and festivals.
Splendour in the Grass is currently approved for 17,500 patrons and is
bursting at the seams with this capacity. The long held vision for
Splendour is to expand the festival to include a broader range of arts
and cultural activities that appeal to a broader demographic. Whilst
young people would still have a sense of ownership of the festival it
would become more attractive and accessible to children as well as
adults over 30 seeking a range of music and arts experiences.
Splendour in the Grass’s $150,000 sponsorship of Splendid (an ideas
laboratory for talented young creative professionals) is a part of this
vision. The demand for the expansion of both arts experiences and
demographic accessibility has been strong for some time yet Belongil
Fields could not accommodate this expansion.
Further, our extensive reports including environmental and traffic
reports clearly demonstrate that the North Byron Parklands site can
comfortably accommodate well in excess of 17,500 patrons for a camping
event. Whether this be a scout jamboree, a music or healing festival.
Capacity should be based on tangible realities such as how much noise
will be generated and how this will be mitigated, how the environment
will be affected and how this will be managed, how much additional
traffic will be generated and how this will be managed, etc. We have
done our homework. We are not asking for favours, we are asking that
the extensive analysis undertaken be considered in a practical light.
Please write a letter objecting to the Draft Event Policy so that it is received by Council not later than 19th March.
Letters marked “Attention: Events Policy comments” should be directed to the General Manager Byron Shire Council PO Box 219 MULLUMBIMBY NSW 2482 or by email to council@byron.nsw.gov.au <Letters%20sent:council@byron.nsw.gov.au>
If you just want to send an email rather than write a letter, here’s
a quick summary you can put into your own words. Please use subject
line: “Events Policy comments”. You will also need to place your name
at the bottom of the email.
The Byron Shire Draft Events Policy places so
many restrictions upon events that not only would large events be
unable to operate within the policy, but the number of small community
based events would significantly decline, reducing the creativity and
originality that is a vital part of the fabric of this region. We would
lose many of our artists, performers and associated event professionals.
The Draft Events Policy needs to allow for:
1.0 Patron capacity to be determined by event site characteristics and holding capacity. Not an arbitrary “16,500” figure.
1.0 Events at North Byron Parklands over the summer period.
2.0 Parklands to operate within its proposed capacity of up to twelve
major event days per year (Splendour in the Grass would occupy three of
these days).
For regular updates, please visit northbyronshireparklands.com.au
Thank you in anticipation of your support. It is very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
The team at Splendour in the Grass
Add a Comment
Top Members
© 2012 Created by Mike.
You need to be a member to add comments!
Join GC Bands - Gold Coast Live Music Scene