Popular Tallarook music festival Boogie Festival could shut down after VCAT verdict

A popular Easter music festival held in Tallarook could be cancelled after a VCAT decision. Find out why.

The future of the popular Boogie Festival is in doubt after a bid for revellers to party and drink until 3am was knocked back for a second time.

The festival, which is held every Easter long weekend at a site on Tallarook Pyalong Road in Tallarook, attracts about 2000 punters and is currently permitted to serve alcohol and play music outdoors until 1am, and host an indoor disco until 3am.

The festival organisers had applied to the Michell Shire Council for two amendments to its permit, which included moving the disco to various smaller locations outdoors and extending its liquor licence at these new locations until 3am.

The festival organisers had argued that the proposed changes were necessary to “enable the approved music festival to continue, meet patron expectations and to align with other festivals”.

However, the council raised issues about the noise levels and the potential for off-site impacts.

Boogie Festival in Tallarook is scheduled for April 7 to 9. Picture: Supplied.

Despite lodging a report saying noise levels would be below legal limits, the council had concerns that the report did not take patron noise into account.

The festival site, which is a “largely rural area predominantly used for agricultural and rural residential purposes”, contains purpose-built stages and is used for four music festivals each year.

In her decision, VCAT senior member Margaret Baird said there were “multiple reasons why the reports do not provide an adequate basis to properly and fully assess the potential impacts of the proposed amendments involving a fully external multi-staged format to 3am”.

“I agree with the council’s summation at the hearing that the impacts are not properly and/ or fully documented and understood,” she said.

“Noise effects are likely to be experienced off-site.”

The council also raised concerns about patron behaviour after 3am.

The festival organisers, including Tanya El-Gamal, said failing to make the amendments was “unreasonable” and could force the event’s closure.

Ms El-Gamal had argued the festival enjoyed community support while bringing beneficial tourism dollars to the area and providing employment opportunities for dozens of locals.

However, Ms Baird said the material relied on by the applicant did not provide a proper basis to grant an extension of the hours of operation of the licensed premises.

The festival was contacted for comment.