Hit with fine for big rave
Facing music after COVID breach
A WOMAN who helped organise a birthday party which “escalated” into a bush rave involving up to 400 people has been slapped with a $1200 fine for breaching COVID-19 rules.
The Cairns Magistrates Court heard Samantha Frances Harvey, 24, had only expected about 50 people to turn up to the event in bushland west of Kuranda on September 4.
But police who were called to the site found hundreds of people in a makeshift campsite which had no facilities and no toilets, and about 100 cars lined up along the dirt road for more than 1km.
At the time COVID rules allowed no more than 30 people at an outdoor event.
Harvey pleaded guilty to one count of failing to comply with COVID-19 health direction.
She was one of two people charged over the event.
Defence solicitor Davina Lucas told the court Harvey, who was about to move to the Sunshine Coast, was “remorseful” and unaware of the change to health rules which occurred two days before, from 100 to 30.
“She does accept she should have been keeping on top of the health directions,” she said.
“It was supposed to be a birthday party for a friend and it clearly escalated.”
The court heard officers returned to the site the following day and found about 200 people still on site.
Ms Lucas told the court police had told the crowd on the first night they could remain and stay in their tents if they were affected by drugs or alcohol.
Magistrate Terence Browne said it was “vital” everyone in the community followed the COVID health directions.
“There were clearly too many people,” he said.
“Just make sure you keep (abreast) of what the health directives are and don’t fall foul of them again.”
Fellow organiser Ethan Douglas Taylor, 29, also briefly faced court on the same charge but his matters were adjourned until October 21. He did not enter a plea.
The event raised the ire of the community with a Cooya Beach man speaking out about finding drug-addled “half-naked hippies” while driving in the state forest the morning after the event.
“It was disgusting. There was rubbish and toilet paper and people sleeping and cars everywhere,” Brody Roberts said at the time.