North Byron Parklands progressing

Following a rigorous fifteen month investigation process the Department of Planning andInfrastructure has finalised their assessment of North Byron Parklands with a recommendation for approval. They have now handed the application to the Planning and Assessment Commission, who will make the final decision regarding whether or not the application will be approved.

“It’s great news regarding the recommendation from the Department of Planning” said Splendour in the Grass’s Jessica Ducrou. “Once there is a determination on the proposal we will be able to work out where Splendour will be held in 2012. Until that time we are solely focused on achieving approval for our site”.

Below are extracts from the Director-General of the Department of Planning and Infrastructure’s Environmental Assessment Report:

Public benefits of the proposal include:

  • The creation of 15 full time construction jobs and 115 full time equivalent jobs during operation of the project;
  • Rehabilitation and revegetation works along Marshalls Ridge, strengthening this area as a vegetated wildlife corridor, and;
  • The creation of permanent new habitat with constructed wetlands along the boundary of the Billinudgel Nature Reserve.

The Department’s recommendation is for the site to carry out three major events of 30,000; 25,000; and 15,000 patrons respectively over a single calendar year for the first year of operation (over a maximum of ten event days).

A single event of 30,000 patrons may be carried out in perpetuity should the proponent meet all KPIs (key performance indicators) after the first year of operation.

Should the proponent seek to increase the size of events, this will be at the discretion of the Director-General following consideration of a KPI Report, and any other matters the Director-General considers relevant.

The recommendation to increase the size of events of no more than 5,000 patrons perevent, per calendar year will ensure that any intensification of site usage is gradual, with sufficient time for monitoring and reporting of any residual impacts; and for the implementation of further management measures.

The maximum site usage will comprise four major events, with the maximum sized event capped at 50,000 patrons.

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