Live music events given green light
by
Six days of live music are set to be added to the Lardner Park calendar despite 16 objections.
The events will be additional to the planning permit already in place for a four-day festival over the new year period.
Lack of clarity as well as noise and traffic concerns were common amongst the objectors of a permit amendment, while users of the neighbouring Baw Baw Equestrian Centre (BBEC) raised concerns about safety issues and lack of communication.
Cr Tricia Jones spoke against the changes, arguing eight hours of loud, live music impacted neighbouring properties.
In his submission to council, Lardner Park chief executive Craig Debnam said the changes would give greater flexibility, enable the venue to attract a more diverse range of music genres and bring “a positive economic, social and tourism outcome for the community”.
He also highlighted the purchase of noise monitoring equipment and training of four staff, enabling “live” recordings across multiple sites.
Councillors supported the officer recommendation at last week’s meeting to issue a notice of decision to grant an amended planning permit for the 155 Burnt Store Rd, Lardner site.
The applicant, Gippsland Field Days Pty Ltd, proposed several amendments to the Lardner Park activity and events schedule, including the addition of live music events.
“The proposed schedule is more robust and easier to interpret,” the officer report stated. “The inclusion of live music events will have limited additional amenity impact on surrounding properties.”
The maximum of six live music events per year will each cater for 5000 to 8000 patrons. One event will be allowed to welcome up to 20,000 patrons.
Live music will cease at 11pm, run for one to two days per event, and operate within paddock 11 and/or 21 near the centre of the site.
“The schedule is proposed to function on a self-audit basis operated by Lardner Park in conjunction with events managers and promoters when hiring the venue,” the report said.
Other key changes were the inclusion of an event impact classification as either low, medium or high, and land use categories grouped under one heading with a range of land use terms and definitions.
Carol Olsen, on behalf of Warragul Pony Club, spoke at the meeting, stating BBEC user groups “had not been provided any details of this application at all, until last Friday, August 5, when we were alerted by a concerned member of the public”.
She raised concerns of extra traffic causing horse transport issues, and noise levels and rubbish blowing onto grounds spooking horses.
“Will the planning of these music events be in consideration of planned events at BBEC?”
Ms Olsen believed communication well in advance and using sites away from BBEC grounds would help alleviate these concerns.
In a written submission, Alicia Tripodi on behalf of Drouin Pony Club raised similar concerns of events being held on a site next to children riding unpredictable animals.
“There is an additional, substantial risk to the safety and welfare of our riders should the events run concurrently with our rallies,” Ms Tripodi said.
Objectors’ concerns related to a potential conflict of interest in Baw Baw Shire assessing the application due to its strategic relationship with Gippsland Field Days, lack of clarity regarding music events, number of events proposed per year and on-site camping, concerns two-day events would exceed 11pm finish, traffic management for large patron events, concerns with the complaint system during events, and noise impacting amenity.
Officers said “live music will terminate at 11pm for each of the six days” and if a twoday event was proposed, “only four days of live music remain available within the year”.
Cr Annemarie McCabe moved the motion proposing “various tweaks” to the Lardner Park activity schedule.
“This is an events venue and, as such, I’m supportive of these changes.”
Cr Darren Wallace said the key factor for him was that the original planning permit had been issued by VCAT.
“Noise and traffic management plans, a POPE, amendments to a planning permit originally issued by VCAT, I’m in favour of the officers’ recommendation.”
“To refuse this and have it potentially go back to VCAT, and get overturned again, would be very embarrassing considering the council officers’ report states that it complies with the planning scheme within the rural activity zone.”
Cr Jones said the proposal made sense from a business perspective but contradicted the sentiment and vision of the community.
“It’s considered that the people living in the surrounding properties are already accustomed to the noise and loss of amenity because they’ve already experienced the fourday festival. So an extra six days should not be a problem for them.”
“From the perspective of neighbours...these events are impactful, they are very impactful.”
“Only now are we getting some understanding of the impact of people who ride their horses at the equestrian centre.”
Cr Jazmin Tauru said all parties would be satisfied if communication was of a higher standard.
“I love all that Lardner Park represents and the wonderful asset that they are to the community. Bringing entertainment, giving people something to do in our area, and bringing more people here to support our businesses and boost the local economy.”
Cr Danny Goss said Lardner Park had a long history on the site and those living in its surrounds should have known the implications of living nearby.
“It really is an administrative issue here...really just to make it more generic and less specific.”
“Lardner Park is obviously, obviously a very important driver of not only economic growth but tourism in Baw Baw Shire.”