Parklands decision out of our hands

The Parklands site at Yelgun which the owners want to develop as a permanent event venue for music festivals such as last weekend’s Splendour in the Grass.

Poll

Who should decide if Splendour can be moved to Yelgun?

This poll ended on 31 December 2009.

Byron Shire Council

25%

State Government

29%

Byron Shire residents

45%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

THE State Government - not Byron Shire Council - will decide if the Splendour in the Grass festival can be moved to the North Byron Shire Parklands site at Yelgun.

The site owners, who want to develop a permanent event venue for music festivals, heard from the Government on Friday the development falls into its major project's jurisdiction.

“Unfortunately, after the actions by CONOS (Conservation of North Ocean Shores Inc) and the decision by Judge Preston in the Land and Environment Court to revoke Byron Shire Council's approval for a trial event, we decided to look at other options,” Parklands general manager, Mat Morris, said

“We thought, as it is a large event, it could fall under the State Government's major projects area.

“We approached the Government and they did a preliminary assessment and have just advised us that it is within their jurisdiction. They will be making the decision.”

North Byron Shire Parklands has written to Byron Shire Council advising that it wishes to formally withdraw the trial event DA.

Byron Shire councillor Basil Cameron said the news was disappointing for local governments.

“If this is the case, it's disappointing the decision has been taken out of the council's jurisdiction,” he said.

However, Mr Morris said there would be ongoing involvement with the planning department at Byron Council.

“The local community does not lose the right to have input into the processing of our application,” he said.

“The application will be placed on public exhibition and any person can make submissions in the same way that they would with Byron Shire Council.”

Mayor Jan Barham yesterday was unable to comment.

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