Mountain Sounds: Development application only lodged the week before

Revellers disappointed over the cancellation of the Mountain Sounds festival may only have the organisers to blame, the Express Advocate can reveal.

Police speak to revellers at the Mountain Sounds Festival at Kariong in 2017. Picture: Lauren Riley

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Revellers disappointed over the cancellation of the Mountain Sounds festival may only have the organisers to blame.

The Express Advocate can reveal organisers only lodged their Development Application (DA) a week out from the event.

Mountain Sounds organisers cancelled the event on Saturday blaming the government’s “war on festivals” as forcing their hand amid claims they had been hit with a $200,000 police bill.

But a cursory search of Central Coast Council’s DA tracker reveals organiser Mitch Bowen only lodged the application on behalf of Mountain Sounds on February 5. The event was due to begin this Friday.

Revellers enjoying the Mountain Sounds Festival where 50 people were caught with illegal drugs last year. There is no suggestion anyone pictured here were involved. Picture: Mountain Sounds Facebook page.

As part of its conditions the DA states the organisers had to notify police and Roads and Maritime Services 90 days prior to the event and notify the commander of Brisbane Water Police 28 days prior regarding the sale of alcohol.

Other conditions include getting the approval of the local police commander for security measures 30 days prior to the event.

A police spokeswoman said local officers attempted to work with the event organisers for months and had no response.

She said the first meeting took place in mid January when organisers had not yet completed plans for the event, or supplied key safety information.

The spokeswoman said in late January 2019, the organisers met with police again and advised that the festival was not financially viable and was unlikely to proceed.

This was despite still heavily promoting the event and advertising ticket sales.

A week out from the event the organisers lumped police with a heap of planning documents and lodged the DA with council.

Revellers enjoying the Mountain Sounds Festival in 2018 Picture: Mountain Sounds Facebook page.

“NSW police work closely with all event organisers to ensure public safety,” the police spokeswoman said.

“In this instance, the information initially provided to police did not accurately reflect the number of expected attendees and revealed numerous breaches.

“The event organisers made a decision to cancel the festival based on financial reasons associated with the event. At no time did police or government direct the organisers to cancel the event.”

The event organiser, Architects of Entertainment, also organised FOMO and Lost Paradise where Lisarow teen Alex Ross-King and Brisbane university student Josh Tam died from drug overdoses.

It is understood the organisers told police the event was not going ahead as early as January 31 before publicly announcing a downsized line up.

A festival spokeswoman said organisers met with police and other stakeholders on July 12, December 17, January 17 and 31 and February 7.

She said at no time did organisers say it was financially unviable.

Revellers enjoying the Mountain Sounds Festival in 2018. Picture: Mountain Sounds Facebook page.

However minutes of the January 17 meeting reveal Architects of Entertainment representative Nathaniel Holmes said ticket sales were “tracking at 5500 maximum”.

This was well below the 16,000 people who attended last year.

“We need to make sure the show can continue and doesn’t go bankrupt,” he is quoted in the minutes.

In the minutes Brisbane Water Superintendent Tony Joice said he had concerns he was “not seeing enough evidence of early intervention before patrons are seriously affected by alcohol or drugs and lying prostrate”.

Throughout the minutes it is revealed the Traffic Management Plan, Emergency Response Plan and plans regarding managing intoxicated patrons were still outstanding a month out from the festival.

The minutes also revealed organisers “were caught out” and seriously underestimated how much fluids were required at the Lost Paradise festival.

A cloud now hangs over refunds for the 3500 people who had paid between $137.93 and $229.91 for tickets. There were also “add on” packages available for “glamping” and behind the scenes access to acts.

The event’s terms and conditions advises a no refund policy but a festival spokeswoman said “all ticketholders who purchased through Eventbrite will be eligible for a refund”.