Media 22 May 2009
media release
Parklands Progressing
North Byron Shire Parklands is soon to meet with Byron Shire Council to discuss options for going forward following the Land and Environment Court decision.
“There has been suggestion that Splendour could relocate to the proposed Ewingsdale Sports Centre site” said Mr Morris. “We congratulate Council and the community in achieving the funding to make this important facility a reality. It will be a tremendous asset for sporting activities and small cultural events. Splendour organisers investigated this site prior to Council’s purchase, as a part of a long and strategic search for a sustainable events venue. The site was unsuitable for our purposes for two major reasons – firstly the site is not large enough to accommodate our event, its camping and carparking. As a comparison, the Belongil Fields site has 47 usable acres and it cannot accommodate car parking. The sports site, we understand, is some 30 usable acres which will be taken up with sports fields and the indoor centre. It is clearly too small for our purposes.
“Secondly and very importantly, we did not want to repeat the current situation at Belongil Fields where the event access is located on the main road into town. We preferred an option which avoided such traffic complications. We would also be concerned about the displacement of sporting events. The time involved in site preparation, holding an event and post event works would significantly disrupt the use of the site for sporting activities for at least two weeks for a major event”.
Northern Rivers Tourism has come out in support of North Byron Shire Parklands, with CEO Russell Mills giving the regional tourism body’s full support for a trial event at the site. (see document)
“As a tourism industry professional and concerned resident, I voice my unequivocal support for cultural tourism of the kind generated by events like Splendour in the Grass. Not only does this event generate undeniable economic benefits in a traditional low season ($5.7 million injected into the Byron Shire economy, 40,000 visitor nights into regional NSW in 2007), but the organisers and site owners demonstrate a commitment to corporate social responsibility that should serve as a benchmark for all event organisers.
“The published accusations of environmental destruction and ruining wildlife corridors leveled by some opponents including CONOS are in-correct and misleading, obfuscating the facts of the recent Land and Environment Court decision regarding Council’s approval of the event.
“The Land and Environment Court decision to revoke Byron Shire Council’s approval of the trial event was based on Chief Justice Brian Preston finding fault with Council’s technical processing of the application, not on the merits of the application.
“Having reviewed relevant parts of the Development Application for a trial event at North Byron Shire Parklands, I am impressed by the degree of consideration given to assessing the environmental, cultural and social impacts of the event”.
