‘Not a doof, not dodgy’ according to event organisers
ON THE road out to Busbys Flat there are no signs of the 1000-strong crowd which partied there on New Year’s Eve.
Lismore
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ON THE road out to Busbys Flat there are no signs of the 1000-strong crowd which partied there on New Year's Eve.
Two kilometres up Redhill Rd is the 600 acre site where some trees are cleared beside the road, there are 'keep out' signs on the gate and tents in a makeshift camp.
Resources and equipment manager Gavin Russell said the New Year's event wasn't a doof and it wasn't dodgy.
"We're not being sneaky," Mr Russell said.
"We worked for six months to put on this gig and we spent $40,000 on security."
Mr Russell said they were being discriminated against by Richmond Valley Council.
"Up the road guys are holding illegal doofs and neither the council or police do anything about it," he said.
The owner of the Redhill site is James Campbell, who was overseas on New Year's Eve, according to Mr Russell.
The council served an injunction notice on James Campbell and Indigo Evolution (the company organising the event) to stop it going ahead.
After a quick name change to One Mob Collective, the event went on.
On the site there is evidence of the efforts the collective have gone to in order to satisfy council regulations.
This included an acoustic sound wall made of 180 cubic metres of dirt, vegetation clearing and a dam for fire safety.
Richmond Valley Council acting general manager Vaughan Macdonald said the organisers did not lodge a development consent application.
"Our position is that the activities are illegal because they haven't been approved. The council is not against these type of parties but Indigo Evolution did not seek approval," Mr Macdonald said.
"The area is a high-risk bushfire area and toilet provision at the site was inadequate."
Busbys Flat resident Angela Saville said she could see the lights from the party.
"I lease an adjoining property where they had it. All you could hear was noise and it just kept getting louder," Ms Saville said.
Mr Macdonald said people at Fairy Hill could hear the "doof-doof".
"They need to do a noise management plan," he said.
One Mob Collective plans to hold at least two events a year at Redhill Rd. They have been creating gardens and beautifying the site.
"We're in it for the long haul. We've been doing this for over ten years," Mr Russell said.
The hearing date to settle the matter in the Land and Environment Court is scheduled for February 5.
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