I support it

I wish to make the following submission.

I object to any extension being given to Parkland's proposal.

By approaching the state govt to get their Part 3A approval extended, Parklands is pointedly ignoring a condition they'd previously agreed to. Despite the objections of Byron Shire Council and great numbers of residents, the state government imposed the development upon them, and the state is now due to hand back control to council after five years. Local control is essential to keeping this development under control. An extension of state control should not, responsibly, be granted.

Parklands' Regulatory Working Group, Parklands' own performance reports, resident groups, and the Department of Planning have all noted breaches in the consent conditions over the trial period, ie, numerous breaches of the current consent conditions have occurred. Why should this organisation be trusted in light of previous breaches?

Parklands' ongoing issues regarding traffic, on-site amenities, off-site impacts on residents' amenity, ecological monitoring, and etc should be a red flag, demonstrating their unwillingness to honour conditions that have been set.

Given the site's proximity to Billinudgel Nature Reserve and the Jones Road (Marshalls Ridge) Wildlife Corridor, home to koalas and approximately 50 other threatened and endangered species, it's more than apparent that this application is unsuitable.tThis is simply the wrong place for high noise and high traffic outdoor music festivals historically attracting tens of thousands of visitors.

Noise breaches were common in the early stages of this event. Even after an increase in the noise limits was allowed (making compliance easier), breaches have continued to occur, demonstrating Parklands disinterest in accommodating such limits and guidelines.

Recently, a NSW Police report on Splendour 2016 was submitted to the DOP. This report raised concerns pertaining to on-site safety, emergency evacuation, traffic congestion and more. That report concluded that no further festivals be held there until the issue they raise are addressed.

Parklands should have been working with Byron and Tweed Councils to reduce the problems and meet the expectations of local residents from the outset. that hasn't been done, so allowing a lengthy extension in the face of so many problems seems completely unwarranted. They have already had five years in which to monitor their operations. The DOP has also had five years to assess their performance. An additional 20 months of monitoring, as they claim this extension would allow, seems a luxury they don't deserve, and one which only prologs the discontent already felt by concerned and impacted residents and Council, especially given the number of breaches and ongoing issues resulting from Parklands' presence. .

Parklands is now pleading 'unfair' with their claims that Falls 2017 cannot proceed and that there plans for Splendour '18 and Falls '18, and Splendour '19 are too far progressed to cancel, yet they were aware at the time or organising that their approval was for only a five year period. The implication that the festival business will fail if this extension is not granted belies their intimate knowledge since 2012 that their approval would expire at the end of 2017.

I submit that Parklands' presence in the area has caused ongoing and unnecessary stress to residents and that any further extension of their activities will only increase the risk of potential harm to vulnerable species. That they have not yet ironed out issues re traffic congestion, along with their seeming inability to meet safety and emergency requirements, would suggest that Parklands does not honour its agreements nor meet its responsibilities.

On this basis, I object to their request for an extension of trial period! They've had their trial, and have not met conditions set out in the initial application agreement.

we believe that the extension should be granted as this is a fantastic event company who fully respect and appreciate the land and grounds at north byron parklands
it is also one of the last areas where festivals are held and to lose this would be a travesty as it brings in a lot of money to byron and surrounding areas

Support extension to continue cultural events and local employment

Objection: Parkland site in North Byron Shire extension of 5-year trial period

1) 5 years is ample time for the owners/management to resolve ongoing issues - this extension effectively allows for continuation of unresolved impacts and increased impacts - it is counter-intuitive. Parklands does not need more monitoring time. They have had five years to monitor their operations, and the DOP has had five years to assess their performance. That's ample time for DOP to make a considered assessment. Any extra time implies processes are being circumvented (see point 2)

2) Condition C1 of the current approval states that events after the trial period will require a further approval from local council under Part 4 of the planning act. By going to the state to get the Part 3A approval extended, Parklands is pointedly ignoring that condition. Applications should be dealt with at a local level where ordinary ratepayers and residents are part the process, not via an extension application to PAC that circumvents Local Councils. How these festivals & attendees relate to the wider community is a local issue.

3) NSW Police recently submitted a report on Splendour 2016 to the DOP, raising concerns about on-site safety, emergency evacuation, traffic congestion and more. The report concluded that no further festivals be held there until the issues they raised are addressed. Allowing a lengthy extension in the face of so many problems is unwarranted. Parklands should be working directly with Byron and Tweed Councils, and local command, to reduce the problems and meet the expectations of local residents and road users.

4) Increasing the number of festivals and crowd sizes will lead to a situation where the "Goose that laid the Golden Egg" will be effectively cooked. The local communities are already dealing with a raft of negative unresolved impacts, not the least of which involve illicit drug use and alcohol. Increased numbers of young drivers on the roads in the Northern Rivers, under the influence of both/either, is not a positive outcome for our area. It has reached a stage where locals now dread the influx of party-goers.

5) Location in a "green-belt" high-value ecological area needs to be reviewed. Whilst (largely) drugged-up or drunk (yes - lets not kid ourselves) young people might enjoy "communing with nature"; rest assured that nature does not reciprocate the feeling. These types of festivals need to be held in purpose-built industrial environments AWAY from "nature". The site is immediately adjacent to Billinudgel Nature Reserve and the Jones Road (Marshalls Ridge) Wildlife Corridor, home to koalas and approximately 50 other threatened and endangered species. It's the wrong place for outdoor music festivals attracting tens of thousands of attendees. Current conditions allow for 30,000: permanent approval is sought for for 50,000 paying customers.

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SITG has and Falls festival have been very important in sustaining my business operations in the Northern NSW region. These 2 festivals provide a significant financial boost for my business. Secondly to that I reside in Bogangar which is a mere 15mins from the site . To see the economic benefits for my area and it's local businesses is pleasing to see.

I support it

I, Robert John Freestone of 11B Konda Court, Ocean Shores, NSW wish to lodge my strong objection to the proposed modification request.
The existing trial period has 9 months to go and Parklands have had 5 years to come to this point .Thus if this extension is approved they will have had 5 years plus the extension to get things right, assuming they don't request a further extension at the end of the requested 20 month extension.
Numerous breaches of the current consent conditions have occurred including traffic problems,noise issues,and off-site impacts on resident's amenity,including anti-social behaviour and traffic problems.
The traffic situation is intolerable and dangerous. To illustrate,on the last night of the 2017 Falls Festival,during torrential rain I was called upon to collect people from the site.
They could ring me but I could not ring them. Although I knew the site well the lighting was so poor I could hardly see and was directed to the wrong pick up point.
Meanwhile hundreds of festival goers were walking around in the dark, on Tweed Valley Way and the Pacific Highway.
There have been so many breaches of conditions over the past 4 years that an extension would be rewarding poor behaviour on the part of Parklands.
It is time that Parklands became accountable for their actions.
They are incapable of running a safe and amenable (to local residents) operation with crowds presumably capped at 35000.
I would consider that an increase in crowd numbers to 50000 (and who knows in the future) would be way beyond them and would be dangerous.
Yours sincerely
Bob Freestone

This festival is an important part of Australia culture now. It has always been held in Byron Bay and I think it should continue to stay there.

I support the extension, so festivals can continue to be held at this location.