Buloke Shire Council pushing to cancel Esoteric Music Festival due to health concerns for patrons

The organiser of a popular music festival in Victoria’s west says he was blindsided by a council announcement it should be cancelled with just a week to go.

Buloke Shire Council is pushing to cancel the 2025 Esoteric Festival. Picture: Esoteric Festival

The organiser of a popular music festival in Victoria’s west says he was blindsided by a council announcement it should be cancelled due to health concerns with just a week to go.

2025 Esoteric Music Festival organiser Sam Goldsmith said it was “concerning” the Buloke Shire Council council had made this announcement so late in the process.

“We haven’t changed anything from the previous event apart from upgrading public health measures,” he said.

“Safety is a huge priority for us and we have been dealing directly with all state authorities to make this event possible.”

Mr Goldsmith, who lives locally in Donald where the festival is set to be held, said the permit application was submitted six months ago.

Councillors will vote on the fate of the festival on Monday. Picture: Esoteric Festival

“It is now in the hands of councillors,” he said.

But council staff are urging councillors in their Monday meeting to deny the permit due to “significant health and safety concerns” for revellers.

“We have been working with the event organisers, consultants and various emergency services, since receiving the planning application last year,” Buloke Council chief executive Wayne O’Toole said.

“However our officers are not satisfied that the health and safety concerns in relation to the safe running of the event have been met and are therefore recommending the planning permit application is refused.

“We understand the impact this decision will have on the event organisers, patrons and the local community, and acknowledge their disappointment but we are also committed to ensuring any event within the shire is safe and compliant.”

The festival was set to run for four days over Labor day weekend. Picture: Esoteric Festival

Council officers cited a large gastro outbreak — which affected more than 250 festival goers — as part of the reason for the permit refusal recommendation.

The officers have warned even if the planning permit is approved, organisers will still require a special event permit which is also “likely to be refused” for the same health and safety concerns.

Mr Goldsmith said the event permit inspection was scheduled to take place next week after the set up was done.

“It is concerning they have said they plan to refuse this permit before a site inspection has even occurred,” he said.

Despite the controversy, Mr Goldsmith said organisers were still proceeding with “full steam ahead” as more than 7000 festival goers had already bought tickets since they went on sale in July last year.

Mr Goldsmith said the festival had a massive impact on the town with the event injecting $15m into the local economy each year as well as employing 1800 staff volunteers and contactors.

The festival, which has run annually since 2017, is set to take place over four days from next Friday, March 7.