Expansion plans for Rabbits Eat Lettuce knocked back by Southern Downs Regional Council

Southern Downs Regional Council has knocked back plans put forward by a popular festival to expand into the future. Here’s why they turned the application down.

Rabbits Eat Lettuce music festival’s application to host additional music festivals in Elbow Valley has been squashed as mayor Melissa Hamilton exercised her casting vote to deny the application. Picture, John Gass

Southern Downs Regional Council has made the controversial decision to put a halt to a popular music festival’s expansion plans prompting the organiser to come out swinging.

Rabbits Eat Lettuce has attracted thousands to the Southern Downs region since its inception to the area in 2019, and was the first festival in Queensland to host a pill testing site in 2024.

The festival’s organisers had made a submission to council last year for a permanent site in Elbow Valley, announcing in July they had reached an agreement with council for a ten-year venue contract.

Councillor Morwenna Harslett told Warwick Daily News back in July the council would be happy to work with the festival again, but at the time was unaware if the application paperwork had come through to council yet.

A development application was then submitted by Urban Planning Precinct in September, which proposed to host multiple music and arts festivals at the site for up to 12 days each year, estimating a total output of $12.7m in the Southern Downs and $13.4m in the Darling Downs.

Rabbits Eat Lettuce dreams of expanding have been squashed as Southern Downs council cites a number of concerns over the application. (Photo: supplied)

The decision was handed down during an ordinary council meeting on February 19, following public consultation in November and December with council receiving a total of 65 submissions.

After a discussion between councillors, council voted to deny the application to host up to 10,000 people at the Cherrabah Resort over 12 days per year citing incompatibility with the amenity in the rural zone, emergency management, environmental impact and community safety concerns as drivers.

The vote was initially hung with councillors Cynthia McDonald, Ross Bartley, Russell Wantling and mayor Melissa Hamilton opposing the application, while the remaining councillors Morewnna Harslett, Sheryl Windle, Carla Pidgeon and Sarah Deane were in support, with Ms Hamilton exercising her casting vote to refuse the application.

Due to a conflict of interest, councillor Joel Richters was absent from the room.

Rabbits Eat Lettuce event organiser Erik Lamir and his event manager, who were present in the room when the decision was handed down, were left shocked by the council’s decision.

“It’s very unfortunate and came as a complete surprise for us considering the application had such strong support from within the planning and development committee,” he said.

Erik Lamir-Pike from Rabbits Eat Lettuce festival events

Mr Lamir said the application also had support from local police who seemed to have no issue with the events taking place as outlined in the application at Cherrabah Resort.

“It seems like the responses given were emotional in nature and didn’t give much weight to the planning grounds of the application,” he said.

Mr Lamir said he’s still in consultation with council and QPS as to this year’s Rabbits Eat Lettuce festival over the Easter long weekend and intends to take the recent decision to the Planning and Environment Court for appeal.

In a statement Ms Hamilton said council had thoroughly considered all the submissions and presentations from the Council Information Session on February 11, acknowledging the diverse perspectives and concerns of all stakeholders.

“After thorough consideration of all submissions and presentations, council has decided to refuse the application for additional music festivals at Elbow Valley,” Ms Hamilton said.

“This was an incredibly close vote, and I would like to thank all my fellow councillors for their engagement and passion on both sides.

“All councillors thoroughly considered all the submissions and the presentations from the applicant and the submitters, and there were diverse perspectives and concerns from all stakeholders.

“The public consultation process was crucial in informing our decision, and we appreciate the community’s engagement and input in a decision that impacts our region.

“While we recognise the potential benefits of hosting large events, we must balance these with the vision and values of our community and ensure we have the right events in the right locations.”

Warwick Daily News has contacted Mr Richters for comment.

Originally published as Expansion plans for Rabbits Eat Lettuce knocked back by Southern Downs Regional Council