Media 7 May 2009
media release
Parklands Presses On
In yesterday’s Land and Environment Court decision regarding a trial event at North Byron Shire Parklands, Justice Brian Preston revoked Byron Shire Council’s approval for the trial event.
The judge found fault with Council’s technical processing of the application. He said that the Byron Shire Council should have issued consent for both use of roads and a place of assembly, whereas they only issued consent for a place of assembly
The judge did not raise any concerns regarding the merit of North Byron Shire Parklands application itself..
‘’Contrary to what CONOS have been reporting, Chief Justice Preston had no issue with the environmental integrity of what we are proposing’’ outlined Mat Morris, General Manager for North Byron Shire Parklands. ‘’He had no issue with the suitability of the site.
‘’We are held up this time by a technical issue relating to the judge’s view of Council’s processing of our application. It is frustrating that we have further delays due to no fault of our own or what we are proposing’’.
In July 2008 the Byron Shire Council granted consent to conduct a one off trial event at the North Byron Shire Parklands site at Yelgun. Council’s decision was then challenged in the Land and Environment Court by the group Conservation of North Ocean Shores Inc (CONOS).
“We will continue our efforts to secure approval to see North Byron Shire Parklands become a respected sustainable event venue” said Mat Morris. ‘’In the meantime our intensive work on improving the biodiversity values of the site will go on”.
In July 2008 the Byron Shire Council granted consent to conduct a one off trial event at the North Byron Shire Parklands site at Yelgun. Council’s decision was then challenged in the Land and Environment Court by the group Conservation of North Ocean Shores Inc (CONOS).
Splendour in the Grass will return to Belongil Fields this year (2009) for its ninth festival.
“Due to time constraints caused by the Land and Environment Court process and the time required to prepare the North Byron Shire Parklands site should a positive outcome be achieved, Splendour organisers have moved ahead with their planning for 2009” said General Manager of North Byron Shire Parklands Mat Morris. “We hope to be able to host the festival as a trial event at North Byron Shire Parklands in 2010”. LEC Judgement 06 May 2009
