A SPLENDID IDEA
North Byron Parklands’ bold plan for a rock-solid permanent venue
A multimillion dollar plan has been put forward that would give Splendour in the Grass and the Falls Festival a long-term home at North Byron Parklands.
BYRON Shire residents and businesses have until February 16 to tell the NSW Government what they think of a multimillion-dollar plan that would give Splendour in the Grass and the Falls Festival a long-term home at North Byron Parklands.
The NSW Government is considering a development application to allow the North Byron Parklands Cultural Events site to become a permanent events venue.
The State Significant Development (SSD) application, lodged by Billinudgel Property Pty Ltd, would allow for the permanent use of the site for events with up to 50,000 patrons.
The DA, which has been classed a SSD because it includes tourist and recreation facilities over a certain size, is in a sensitive environmental area and involves more than $30 million capital investment.
The DA is now on exhibition for the public to comment on.
Byron Shire Council will also lodge a submission on its assessment of the DA, which would allow $42 million in proposed upgrades to the site. They would include a conference centre, a “golden view” bar, terracing of the main amphitheatre, improvements to transport infrastructure and restoration and maintenance of vegetation and habitat.
The works would create up to 150 jobs during construction and 560 once operational.
Splendour and The Falls have been held at the Parklands site, 15 minutes from Byron central on Tweed Valley Way at Wooyung, for the past five years under a trial agreement.
As part of the DA, more annual events would be held at the site including another three music or cultural events for up to 25,000 patrons a day, five small community days such as local arts festivals for up to 5000 patrons a day and two minor event days for school sports carnivals for 1500 patrons.
The site would operate 24 hours a day on event days, with amplified music restricted to 11am to midnight, or to 1am on New Year’s Eve.
While events such as Splendour in the Grass, which returns to Parklands from July 20-22, and the Falls Festival bring thousands of visitors to
THE PLANS WOULD ALLOW THE POPULAR SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS, WHICH IS HELD IN WINTER, AND THE FALLS FESTIVAL, STAGED IN SUMMER, TO HAVE A PERMANENT HOME
ANTHEA SARGEANT
Byron Shire, residents have raised concerns about negative impacts on the community.
Council’s submission is expected to look at issues including site management, ecological impacts, emergency evacuation, noise, traffic, parking and pedestrian management, food health and provision of on-site facilities.
General manager Matt Morris said the North Byron Parklands team had done an “outstanding job” in managing any environmental impact s.
“We have worked hard to improve traffic, sound and community amenity along the way,” he said.
NSW Planning and Environment Department executive director for key sites and industry assessments Anthea Sargeant said the department was keen to hear the community’s views on the plans.
“The plans would allow the popular Splendour in the Grass, which is held in winter, and the Falls Festival, staged in summer, to have a permanent home,” she said.
“The proposal would see the festivals held over five days each, with up to 35,000 patrons initially.
“The applicant is seeking to progressively increase patron attendance at Splendour in the Grass to 50,000, but this would only occur if certain performance measures are met.”
For further details go to: majorprojects.planning.nsw. gov.au to view and comment on the Cultural Events Site – North Byron Parklands (SSD 8169) DA and access the EIS for the proposal.