Following a comprehensive planning assessment process the North Byron Parklands site at Yelgun in the Byron Shire has been given the green light.
Today the Planning and Assessment Commission (PAC) announced approval for the venue, saying “the Commission agrees with the Director-General of the Department of Planning’s assessment that the proposal will provide Byron Shire with a permanent cultural events site attracting visitors to the area and generating much needed employment, as well as providing environmental benefits arising from revegetation”.
Changes to the approval recommended by the NSW Department of Planning are as follows:
- Outdoor events are approved for a trial period of five years up to the end of 2017.
- Outdoor events following the trial period will require a further approval from Byron Council under Part 4 of the EP&A Act.
- Three events per year will be permitted during the trial period.
- Up to a maximum of 10 event days will be permitted each year during the trial.
- No event must exceed 4 event days.
- The five year trial period allows for incremental growth in patron numbers:
Number of trial | Large trial event | Medium trial event | Small trial event |
First trial | Up to 25,000 patrons | Up to 15,000 patrons | Up to 10,000 patrons |
Second trial | Up to 27,500 patrons | Up to 17,500 patrons | Up to 12,000 patrons |
Third trial | Up to 30,000 patrons | Up to 20,000 patrons | Up to 13,000 patrons |
Fourth trial | Up to 32,500 patrons | Up to 22,500 patrons | Up to 14,000 patrons |
Fifth trial | Up to 35,000 patrons | Up to 25,000 patrons | Up to 15,000 patrons |
Mat Morris, General Manager of North Byron Parklands, on the approved site
“It has been a long journey, we are pleased to finally gain approval” said Mat Morris, General Manager for North Byron Parklands. “Our proposal has been updated on various occasions throughout the assessment process, so we encourage people to go to our website at www.northbyronparklands.com and view the final approved plan.
“63% of the site is out of bounds, set aside for nature either as protected existing vegetation or new habitat areas. The overall land holding is 258.71 hectares, and of that only 93.29 hectares will be used for events, including parking and camping. Therefore we will only ever use up to 37% of the site for event purposes”.
The approval means the permanent return of Splendour in the Grass to the Byron Shire. The festival will be held at Belongil Fields this year and at North Byron Parklands from 2013.
“It’s great to be bringing Splendour back permanently to Byron where the festival began” said Jessica Ducrou, Co-Producer of Splendour.
“Events give people reason to travel, so the decision to approve North Byron Parklands is a smart one for tourism in this state” said Russell Mills, CEO of Northern Rivers Tourism. “We thank the many thousands of supporters of North Byron Parklands and Splendour as this approval will bring enormous social, environmental and economic benefits to the Northern Rivers”.
The approval heralds the commencement of the much anticipated North Byron Parklands Community Grants Fund.
For further information including interviews and images please contact Caroline Desmond 02 66875674 0415 499429 caroline@carolinedesmond.com.au
Please direct any enquiries about Splendour In The Grass 2012 or 2013 to:
Gabe Cramb 0419 798 995 gabe@scrabble.net.au