‘Unjustified’ attempt to defund Nimbin Aquarius festival voted down in heated Lismore City Council debate

A “punitive” and “unjustified” attempt by Lismore council to hold funding back from an iconic Nimbin festival over an inadequate traffic plan for the event has been rebuffed.

An“unjustified” attempt by Lismore council to defund the Nimbin Aquarius has been shot down. Inset: Aquarius co-organiser and Nimbin Chamber of Commerce president David Hyett.

A “punitive” and “unjustified” attempt to “penalise” Nimbin Aquarius festival organisers by defunding the event has been shot down following a stormy debate over traffic noncompliance.

The controversy kicked off after the Nimbinites went ahead with the 50th anniversary of the iconic hippy festival without an approved traffic plan.

As a result, $10,000 in promised funding by Lismore council was withheld, with the Traffic Advisory Group – chaired by deputy mayor Jeri Hall – moving to “penalise” the festival by cutting $5000 from the payout.

Gathering in Nimbin Peace Park for Aquarius 50. Picture: Boah Marley

Aquarius co-organiser and Nimbin Chamber of Commerce president David Hyett said during the July council meeting there wasn’t a “deluge” of people and the event had been “quite low key”.

Mr Hyett said calling the 50th celebration a “festival” was a “mistake” which had set off “alarm bells”.

“There is no requirement for traffic management plan needed for any other event other than MardiGrass,” he said.

Louise Grenfell and David Hyett.

Mr Hyett said the organisers had paid out of pocket for a consultant to put together a plan – but it was rejected by council staff, leaving the organisers with no time to meet the requirements.

“We gave our very best,” he said. “To keep back $5000 is really petty.”

Councillor Big Rob accused Mr Hyett and the Aquarius organisers of misleading council by calling it a festival “to get funding”.

Healing Voice Choir at Nimbin Aquarius 50 Festival. Picture: Natalie Barovsky.

Mr Hyett said there was no “mis-intent [sic]” and Mr Rob’s accusation was unfair.

“I find that to be quite confronting that you would say that,” he said.

Mr Rob said council should “not reward noncompliance” before failing to carry a motion to withhold the $10,000.

“Nimbin does whatever they want, and we reward them with $10,000.”

Mr Hyett said if the $5000 was withheld the Aquarius Festival organisers would be “forced” to fundraise elsewhere.

Kids and elders at the Nimbin Aquarius 50 Festival. Picture: Kaz Child's.

Councillor Vanessa Ekins said it was “disappointing” council staff rejected the organisers’ attempts instead of working with them.

Councillor Darlene Cook moved to provide the full $10k to the Aquarius 50 organisers, saying it was “petty, punitive, and totally unjustified” to “retrospectively penalise” the Nimbinites.

Lismore councillors (from left, back) Peter Colby, Big Rob, Andrew Bing, Vanessa Ekins, Andrew Gordon, Adam Guise, (front) Elly Bird, Jeri Hall, Steve Krieg, Electra Jensen and Darlene Cook

Councillors voting to provide the funding in full: Elly Bird, Peter Colby, Darlene Cook, Vanessa Ekins, Andrew Gordon, Adam Guise, Jeri Hall, Electra Jensen, mayor Steve Krieg in favour.

Councillors Andrew Bing and Big Rob voted to withhold funding.