The Department of Planning and Environment, I write to you today with
regard to The North Byron Parklands Cultural Events Site, and the
application to make this a permanent event site and to increase the
capacity of the site to 50,000 people. My support for this application
comes as a partner, sister and friend of people employed at this site
through Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival, but also as local
resident and a marketing and events specialist with over 25 years
experience. I feel it important to also understand that I am very
precious about the local environment, the maintenance of it and the
personal benefits I gain from living in such a beautiful natural
environment. So whilst it could appear that I have a bias based on my
personal relationships to those who benefit financially from this
event site, I can assure you that this is balanced out with a strong
and opinionated desire to protect this environment and my surrounding
local community. I have witnessed first hand, the care and attention
that the organisers and those who manage the site and the events, take
to protect the physical environment, and also the safety of the
patrons both on-site and as they move away from the site. It is with
this hands on experience that has convinced me that there is, and can
continue to be balance between 'sustainable growth and development'
and the protection of our environment and local community assets. I
have worked on many events over my career and can absolutely vouch for
the fact that the current events held at The North Byron Parklands are
managed with a level of professionalism, respect, care and
responsibility that is rarely seen in the industry. This is what gives
me absolute confidence that the same ethos will be carried through to
any additional events and increased capacities. I also believe that
whilst there is of course an opportunity for financial reward involved
with the granting of this application, at the heart of the application
and the applicants comes an authentic desire to provide opportunity.
Opportunity for employment, opportunity for growth, opportunity to
provide entertainment, opportunity to provide and support diverstiy,
opportunity to make people happy and from where I stand, in this day
and age it is hard to find anything but positives in that. Thank you
for your consideration. [REDACTED]

I would like to support the current submission to hold Splendour and
Falls festivals permanently at the Parkland's site. Both festivals are
well managed, provide employment and boost local business. They
provide a great opportunity for the youth of the area to enjoy music
and culture from around the world, in a safe and fun environment. The
set up is commendable, great composting toilets and waste management
and they have really made an effort to sort out any traffic control
issues that may have arisen when they first moved to the site. In my
opinion they can only get better and should be given the opportunity
to do so.

Strongly support this event and site to continue for the benefit of the
local people and our economy. I live in nearby Ocean Shores and find
the owners are very respectful to our town and the events are very
welcome by the vast majority of locals who may not be as vocal as
other sections of the community.

A great event in a fantastic location, easy access beautiful area close
enough to towns but far enough away not to disturb residents. Make it
the permanent home.

Dear Madam/Sir I am writing in support of SSD 8169, a Modification to
Concept Approval MP 09_0028 and consent for the permanent use of the
North Byron Parklands as a cultural events site for up to 50,000
patrons. North Byron Parklands (Parklands) has been through a rigorous
assessment process across the last 5 years covering all aspects
associated with the events held on site including traffic, noise,
flooding, social, ecological and heritage impacts. This assessment
process formed the essence a 5 year trial approval that was given to
Parklands in order to test its viability as an event venue. It is my
understanding, that no other events venue has been given an approval
to trial its viability prior to a requirement for a further
application for permanency. However, this precautionary approach
issued by the Planning and Assessment Commission has afforded
Parklands the opportunity to develop, implement and refine various
systems and processes such that the incredibly passionate, experienced
and dedicated management team of North Byron Parklands now has a
clearly documented pathway of continuous Improvement. Across the
duration of this trial approval, Parklands has successfully hosted 10
internationally acclaimed events with both the venue and the events
themselves demonstrating a continued pathway of ongoing improvement
across a range of key performance indicators from one event to
another. It has unequivocally proven that it is a viable and
sustainable events venue. North Byron Parklands has been able to
concurrently manage community impacts whilst providing valuable work
opportunities and experience for locals. It has brought the positive
benefits of tourism to the greater Byron Shire and offered much needed
community contributions in the form of a festival ticket levy to boost
the local economy. Parklands is home to two internationally recognized
events in Splendour In the Grass and The Falls Music & Arts Festival.
The reputation of these two events alone, that continuously sell out
year after year, attract some of the world's biggest and most desired
artists to Australia on put Northern NSW on their touring cycle. It's
a result that assists to keep us at the forefront of the international
music and creative arts industries maintaining Australia and the
Northern NSW Coast as an international destination for high quality,
engaging, cultural experiences. More than $25 million has been spent
on development and infrastructure over the past 5 years by North Byron
Parklands. A significant investment considering it has been without
operating certainty. A further investment of $42 million would follow
with an approval in place. This further investment will allow for
Parklands to build an onsite conference centre and onsite water and
wastewater management systems that would not be connected to local
council municipal systems among several additional improvements which
we believe would see multiple flow-on benefits to the local amenity.
In Summary, North Byron Parklands has been one of the most publicly
scrutinized events venues in Australia but the site has absolutely met
key performance indicators which were conditional of its approval,
whilst making continuous improvements. It is an outstanding events
venue that will continue to improve, thrive and provide incredible
cultural, social and financial opportunity and benefits in particular
for the greater Byron Shire and Northern NSW community as well as the
Australian cultural landscape. Without doubt, the project should be
given permanent approval. Best Regards

I wish to provided this letter of strong support to the significant
economic and other flow on benefits the approval of this application
for permanency will bring to to the Byron Shire and wider Northern
rivers region. 1. Total economic value of $126.4 Million with $34.6M
direct benefit to the Byron district 2. Direct capital injection of
$55.1M with $17.1M going to the Byron District 3. 788 full time jobs,
246 in Byron 4. The trial period shows the effectiveness of the
environmental monitoring and controls with further mitigation measures
proposed, it shows serious commitment to the ecological values on the
site. 5. Traffic issues are also well in hand and on past experience
NBP have shown a successful pro active approach to management of this
important issue 6. With regard to noise, experience shows the site
complies with the current approval limits and continues to work with
all parties to ensure ongoing compliance is achieved. I believe the
positive social benefits far outweigh the currently well recognised
and managed negative impacts and that continued operation of multi day
events on this site be approved as a matter of priority for the future
of the Byron/ Northern Rivers region. The Parklands trial has
successfully demonstrated to all parties that the application for
permanency be approved as it is the correct outcome for the community
and the region.

I am in support of further development of the North Byron Parklands to
enhance it's sustainability as a permanent cultural event site. Such
events attract valuable tourism to the Byron Bay region which in turn
provides employment opportunities for local residents. In an area of
low employment this is a point of vital importance to be considered.

I totally support North Byron Parklands as a permanent site for all
future/current festivals events. I have been to all these events at
this venue and it is the perfect spot for these type of events. Our
area needs these events and we need somewhere to host them otherwise
they will go to other areas and they will benefit from them like we do
now!!!

To whom it may concern, The Splendor in the Grass event brings large
numbers of visitors to this area which relies heavily on the tourism
industry as a major employer. While any large event that caters to
thousands of attendees will result in some inconveniences to residents
of primarily rural areas, anyone attending can attest that it is well
run, and conducted in a professional manor seeking to minimise
negative community impacts. My business benefits from the running of
the event by the extra customers in town allowing for a higher number
of seasonal staff able to be retained over the quiet winter months. I
support the running (and expansion) of the event on the basis that on
balance, there is significant community benefits to employment and
incomes in the area. Yours sincerely Darren Pearson General Manager

I am born & bred in the Byron Shire. I believe that North Byron Parkland
brings so much to our area. The job opportunities that have been
created through the festivals that are held there have been
overwhelming. I know people of all ages that have annual employment,
some full-time. These people I have grown up with & are able to stay
in the local area & look after their families because of the jobs
created through the festivals held at NBP. NBP is a beautiful
property, it's well maintained & loved dearly by all the people that
look after it. The environmental initiatives & sustainability in place
ensures that it remains eco friendly. There are self composting
toilets, recycling & on-site waste management. I grew up on 300 acres,
we had cows & horses, they would dig up the earth & eat the young
vegetation if not fenced in, they had more of an impact on our
property than I see happening from thousands of people at NBP. I know
many people in the area that own businesses & everyone benefits from
the thousands of people who attend festivals at NBP each year. This
income is vital for many of us & keeps dinner on the table for a lot
of local families. We need this amazing property to keep operating as
it has done for the last few years.