Celestial Grove festival slapped with Armstrong Creek approval injunction

Defiant organisers of an illegal four day rave are seeking a new location after police slapped an injunction on their sold out ‘festival’.

An illegal four-day rave set up opposite an Armstrong Creek housing estate has been forced to move after failing to get a permit, with police issuing an injunction notice to organisers of the sold out event.

Scheduled for the Easter long-weekend, the Celestial Grove music festival promised revellers a range of psytrance and dubstep DJ’s including headliners Megapixel and Tobacco Rat at an Ashbury Estate location just 10 minutes from Geelong.

Organisers described the event as "blends of high and low, light and dark – our unique energies intertwine among each other fabricating a lucid dreamscape where the unknown beckons curiosity, transformation and surrender". Picture: Facebook/Sickest House.

But when last week’s sound check triggered an avalanche of complaints from local residents, others began to question how it would have been able to obtain permits given the proximity to several housing estates.

City of Greater Geelong executive Tennille Bradley said organisers “have not applied for the relevant permits, nor have they received any approvals from the city”.

“We’ve advised them that without the appropriate approvals, the event can’t go ahead in Greater Geelong this long weekend.”

A Victoria Police spokesman said organisers were slapped with an injunction preventing them from proceeding with the event.

“Any planned festival or event must have the appropriate permits and comply with Council laws,” the spokesman said.

“Victoria Police will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure community safety and compliance with the law,” he added.

The Ashbury Estate in Armstrong Creek, where the festival was meant to be held. Picture: Supplied.

The injunction notice prompted organisers to announce the sold out event had been “relocated to a licenced venue”.

“Do not prepare to head to Geelong. An email will be sent to ticket holders Monday!” the statement read.

Organisers slugged 400 ravers $160 a head for a weekend pass, with an additional $50 donation required to secure an onsite parking spot.

With spaces limited, the rest were told to park at Coles and wait for a shuttle bus to the site.

Neighbours say they were not consulted by the festival’s organisers, who were seen “Moving around the site with utes” on Monday night after Police issued them an injunction notice. Picture: Brad Fleet

News of the injunction was welcomed by residents on local Facebook groups, who had been complaining about the rave for days.

“Fully aware I sound like a Karen, but not sure I want mind altered elves and tinkerbells knocking on my door trying to find passage between worlds,” one resident posted.

Local father Michael, who withheld his surname, was also pleased to hear it was moving.

“It’s crazy that they were trying to do something like this right between two housing estates and the Surf Coast highway,” he said

As of Tuesday afternoon, it remained unclear where the event would take place.

Police confirmed no application for correct permits have been made since the injunction was served.

If the event does proceed without a permit, the organisers could face hefty fines, police enforcement of the injunction, or prosecution through the courts.

The festival’s organisers were approached for comment.

Originally published as Celestial Grove festival slapped with Armstrong Creek approval injunction