Addressing the Rumours - North Byron Shire Parklands

Water Cycle and Waste Management
Some neighbours have raised concerns with regard to the management of waste and toilet / shower facilities at North Byron Shire Parklands.

Contrary to the concerns raised, North Byron Shire Parklands provide the ideal opportunity to manage both water and waste in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Whilst the initial “trial event” will utilise an almost entirely “temporary” waste management system, [with all waste being removed at the end of the event] the long term vision for the site would involve the use of more sustainable waste management practices.

Subject to further engineering advice, we envisage a large scale recycling regime [that incorporates both solid and liquid waste] such that waste generated on site is treated – to the extent possible – onsite. Our aim is to provide an environmentally sustainable waste management system that incorporates world first technology and practices, as they become available and permissible, under the appropriate environmental planning regulations.

In short, the establishment of a long term festival site will allow the necessary investment in waste management technologies and procedures that will benefit both the immediate environment and the environment at large - in a way that simply isn’t achievable at the current venues.

Ecology and the Environment
Much has been made of the effects of proposed events on the environment - much of it highly inaccurate.

In reality, the net environmental benefit of the proposal is enormous. Having suffered at the hands of previous owners [as evidenced by numerous Court orders] there is much that can be done to enhance and build upon the natural environment contained within and around the site. The Billinudgel Nature Reserve represents one of the last remaining coastal habitats of significance in the region and the North Byron Shire Parklands site is a key habitat link to the world heritage listed Mount Warning Caldera

The significance of this opportunity can not be underplayed.

Thanks to the long term efforts of numerous local residents and environmental groups we now have the opportunity to effectively contribute to the development of habitat links connecting fragmented forest patches in the locality.
It is with this overriding objective that Council have initiated a rezoning of the site. That is, to facilitate the enhancement and enlargement of an effective wildlife corridor whilst the land is under one ownership. The various authorities have openly recognised the historical opportunity this represents – expediting the appropriate planning requirements.

Should the North Byron Shire Parklands initiative fail, the land would almost certainly be broken into smaller landholdings [again] making it next to impossible to facilitate such a grand ecological improvement.

To those who are more generally concerned about the environmental aspects involved in the creation of a festival site we would refer to the nearest example at hand – that of the Woodford Folk Festival site. When they purchased their site the Queensland Folk Federation went through a very similar process to that which we are now experiencing only to prove – beyond any reasonable doubt – that cultural pursuits need not be at odds with nature. Quite the contrary, they can provide both the economic drivers and human energy necessary to substantial acts of regeneration. Evidence from Woodford indicates an increase in biodiversity on the site: this should also be achievable at the North Byron Shire Parklands.

Noise
The current festival venues in Byron Shire are within close proximity to the most densely populated parts of the shire.

North Byron Shire Parklands is in comparison, almost uniquely, positioned to allow optimal sound management visa vi the neighbouring community. As indicated in the accompanying locality diagrams , the actual “festival grounds” at North Byron Shire Parklands are set well back from populated areas. Furthermore, the sheer size of the site [660 acres] and the presence of an almost completely self contained valley with in the site, allow for optimal onsite containment. Having scoured much of the shire prior to settling on this site, we are confident North Byron Shire Parklands will well and truly meet the legal benchmarks that apply to the emission of noise at such events.

Security
Understandably perhaps, some neighbours – particularly those in the Yelgun Valley on the western side of the new Pacific Highway – have expressed concerns about their safety visa vi patrons “straying” from the site causing “havoc” in the local vicinity.

To those residents that are concerned, I would point to the recent experiences surrounding events currently held in Byron Bay. Patrons at these events have – by an overwhelming majority – showed themselves to be well meaning and responsible in their actions.

Irrespective of this fact, festivals such as Splendour in the Grass are subject to stringent security controls mandated by local regulation and state government licensing laws. That is, patron behaviour is strictly managed.

It’s worth noting that security concerns [such as those voiced] haven’t materialised at the current venues and we see no reason why this will prove any different at the new site. Quite the contrary, with more land we are better able to contain the festival experience on site and in doing so minimise any and all external impacts.

Approval Process
North Byron Shire Parklands

Again, much has been made of the “approval process” in play – and again, much of it is inaccurate.

In simple terms, there are two approval processes in play as we speak.

The first is a development application [DA] for a single “trial” event that would provide the basis for a comprehensive monitoring program - that would in turn provide accurate scientific data for any subsequent DA.

It was also thought beneficial that the immediate community would have the chance to experience an event in operation before being asked to comment on the long term future of the site.

The proprietors could just as easily have applied for multiple events – but chose to apply for a “trial DA” so as to enable constructive and better informed input from both the local community and relevant regulatory authorities when considering the parameters of any longer term consent conditions.

Should any of the more dramatic concerns recently voiced materialise they would clearly not auger well for further development applications. To this end, if event organizers were not confident in a positive outcome for all concerned they would not have opted for a “trial DA”.

The second part of the approval process is the council initiated rezoning enquiry. This is not required in order to hold an event on the property. It is to facilitate the most effective use of the property visa vi the environment and the construction of the wildlife corridor discussed above. It is a long run process that involves a far greater degree of consultation than applicable to a single DA. Should all go well the rezoning process will provide the best possible forum within which to address all relevant stakeholder needs. Most importantly, from our point of view, it will also provide the certainty [for all parties] that will be required of any substantial ecological improvements to the site – most notably the creation of the Billinudgel wildlife corridor.

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