Restrictions from Qld Health putting more pressure on festivals

GOLD Coast festival promoters are urging more clarity around the rules for running events.

Festival organisers are feeling frustrated at changing Queensland Health restrictions, saying it makes it difficult to plan.

More than 9500 people were expected at The Spit on April 17 to attend the For The Love Festival.

But the Queensland Health edict requiring people to carry masks in public – and wear them outdoors if unable to stay 1.5m from other people threw a spanner in the works.

For The Love director Ben Tucker said he was “running with the idea of mandated masks”.

But due to no certainty on whether it would be approved, he decided to postpone the whole thing until August 7.

“It was a decision that this event isn’t going to look like it was going to,” he said.

Mr Tucker said he sympathised with Queensland Health but hoped it worked on trying to understand the arts industry and festivals.

“I can’t get angry because I know how much pressure they are under,” he said.

“They don’t understand our industry but they are trying their best.”

Cross Promotions co-owner Billy Cross, whose company was doing the For The Love bar areas, said Queensland Health needed to create a road map to ensure they could plan ahead.

“We are getting congratulated by having zero cases and mass testing but we aren’t getting rewarded,” Mr Cross (pictured) said.

He said it could be as simple as stating the conditions.

“If there was a festival not allowed to happen (they can say) it’s based on these conditions. At least that way we can have some clarity and can move forward.”

Mr Cross said when an event was postponed, a lot of associated businesses copped it: “We are employing 200 staff to help work the bar and the event, they are relying on this as their casual income. We just need some structure in place.”