Initiation NYE secures Morgan Park site

An electronic music festival that had councillors butting heads has now been given the green light to take place at a new location in Warwick. FULL STORY

A five-day electronic music festival has been approved to set up shop over New Year’s Eve, despite initial push back from Southern Downs Regional Council.

Sundried Events’ previous application to host their Initiation NYE event on a parcel of land in Junabee was refused over safety concerns of the proposed location at the ordinary meeting on November 20.

Concerns were raised over the proposed site at 28 Roona Rd falling within a heavy flood plain, noise monitoring and a perceived lack of consultation with neighbouring landholders.

Unlike the Rabbits Eat Lettuce festival which was the first Queensland music festival to implement pill testing, the Initiation NYE event has strictly prohibited illicit substances.

Initiation NYE patrons will also be subject to restrictions on the amount of alcohol allowed into the BYO event, with a ‘no pass out policy’ to be enforced.

Sundried Events Initiation NYE will go ahead at a new location in Warwick. Photo: Sundried Events

The event organisers were quick to find an alternative location, resubmitting another application for the festival to take place at the Warwick Horse Trials in Morgan Park.

Sundried Events creative director Caco Law said despite a small hiccup in the change of location, the event was still running full steam ahead.

This New Years will be the events first time hosting in the Southern Downs, having previously held the last three events in the Gold Coast Hinterland and Scenic Rim area.

Mr Law said he was attracted to the opportunity the Southern Downs boasts to expand the event in the future.

While the NYE event will host similar live music acts as Rabbits Eat Lettuce, it’s an entirely different vibe and on a smaller scale.

“We cater to an entirely different crowd, most of our (patrons) are aged between 35-45 and we cater for families,” he said.

“For many of them it’s the first time they’ve attended a festival.”

The event also offers a separate campground for families as well as workshops and activities catered to young people and children.

Sundried Events creative director Caco Law (L) has more than 20 years experience in the music and entertainment industry. Photo: Garlic Aeolan/Initiation NYE/Facebook

Mr Law said the smaller capacity event allows them to create a community vibe between patrons throughout the five-days.

“In keeping it small it allows us room to include more interesting artists and (the event) provided a platform for new and up and coming artists,” he said.

“You also have more opportunity to get to know everyone when it’s only a few hundred people over five days.

“We also find having a family friendly event deters people from engaging in drug use.”

Mr Law said while they don’t see the need for a pill testing site, the event does engage a large amount of resources into harm reduction.

The 2024 event boasts more than 30 workshops ranging from meditation and healing, acrobatics to arts and crafts.

A number of popular national and international electronic, hip-hop and folk artists will also take the stage at the Morgan Park event.

Mr Law said they’re hoping the 2024 event will be a sellout, with ticket sales already through the roof.

Previous contentions were laid to rest at a special council meeting on November 27, where all councillors aside from Ross Bartley voted to approve the new location at 228 Old Stanthorpe Rd.

Mr Bartley opposed the events application over concerns it would put further strain on limited police and emergency service resources over the Christmas and New Years period.

Additional conditions were added to the approval of the temporary entertainment application, which included increasing on-site amenities, consulting with rural fire crews among others.