Splendour's call to arms

Mon 8th Aug, 2011 in Local News

While many punters are still nursing hang-overs from this year’s Splendour InThe Grass the festival’s organisers are already thinking about 2012’s event, calling on attendees to help Splendour return to its spiritual home in Byron Bay.

It’s been over three year’s since the festival’s organisers purchased land at Yelgun in the North Byron Parkland, where they hope to establish the festival permanently. However, since buying the new site Splendour has faced serious opposition from the local council who want to enforce a LEP ( Local Environmental Plan ) amendment which would limit major music events, that have 6000 patrons and take place over two days.

In a statement released on their website Splendour has detailed the issue, saying that “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.”

Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce president Sevegne Newton recently told community newspaper The Northern Star that the absence of the festival has adversely affected the local community and that she wants to see the festival’s application for relocation approved. The paper reports that: “Splendour in the Grass, which was held at Woodford at the weekend, was widely regarded as the key to avoiding the winter “trough” and its loss has been devastating.”

Splendour is calling on the public to help build their case for the festivals return to Byron, and have set up a website where you can do just that. Submissions are due by 4:00pm on Thursday 18th August.