Splendour In The Grass have issued a statement on their website urging fans to email Byron Shire Council objecting to the LEP amendment council are trying to pass to limit big music festivals in the area.
Byron Shire council previously tried to limit the number of big festivals to be held in the area, but the public opposed it. Splendour claim that the council withheld the public’s view in a report to State Government and are now trying another method, the LEP.
The effect of the amendment would place North Byron Parklands (Splendour’s intended permanent home) at risk.
From the Splendour In The Grass Website:
We urgently need you to help us keep music alive in our home of Byron Shire. The local council is trying to force an LEP amendment which would limit major music events over 6000 patrons and over two days’ duration to only two a year.
The effect of this amendment would be to not only place North Byron Parklands (Splendour’s intended permanent home) at risk, it would also stifle the local music scene and creative industries as well as hampering economic activity and innovation in the Byron Shire. And it sends a message that Byron does not support music events, which is just not true.
Council have already consulted the public about limiting major music events. Last year they had a six-week public exhibition period for their Draft Events Policy, which placed severe limitations on events.
The majority of public submissions objected to this draft policy. Council also received a petition with 2054 signatures against the Draft Events Policy, stating:
“We, the undersigned, petition the Mayor and Councillors of Byron Shire Council to:
Amend your Draft Events Policy to allow for large events outside Byron township over the summer period, to allow for more than two large events annually and to also abolish the 16,500 cap on event capacity. Please consider our creative future. “
Even Council’s own planning staff recommended against the policy.
Yet Byron Shire Council’s report to State Government omitted the fact that the majority of public submissions opposed their policy. They further omitted the fact that their own planning staff opposed it.
Now they are trying to further limit events, specifically large music events, through another method, the LEP. They didn’t listen to the feedback from last year.
Please take a moment to send an email objecting to the LEP amendment. Submissions are due by 4:00pm on Thursday 18th August. It only takes a sec, we promise. Click here…
