By NIKKI TODD
ORGANISERS of music festival Splendour in the Grass have committed to improve infrastructure and drainage at their Yelgun site ahead of upcoming events after revellers dubbed the weekend `Splendour in the Mud’.
A capacity crowd of up to 25,000 people per day crammed into the festival’s new home at North Byron Parklands, just south of the Tweed border, last weekend to enjoy three days of world-class music and entertainment from more than 80 bands.
But despite the mostly sunny, dry weather, revellers were forced to trudge through thick mud which became smellier by the day, leading many to dub the event `Splendour in the Mud’.
Complaints were also made about traffic congestion and the lack of buses, particularly on the opening day last Friday, while others complained of a lack of toilets at camping areas.
This was the first time Splendour was staged at its new home of North Byron Parklands – a 240-hectare site which sits at Yelgun just south of the Tweed border.
Organisers acknowledged the teething problems and vowed to address them ahead of their next event with the Falls Music and Arts Festival scheduled to run from December 31 to January 3.
A spokesperson for North Byron Parklands said plans were afoot to address the muddy conditions.
“There was unprecedented rain (two metres) during our construction phase, which waterlogged the region,’’ the spokesperson said.
“Unfortunately these delays meant that we weren’t able to have our site in the perfect condition. Plans are afoot to implement effective measures to improve site drainage in time for the next event at North Byron Parklands.’’
Splendour co-producers Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco said they were just happy to finally hold the event at its new home.
“We’re so happy that we finally got to our dream home and so many of you came to celebrate with us,’’ they said in a statement.
“For those of you who were so patient when arriving, we thank you. We promise to get the kinks out for 2014.’’
Pottsville Community Association president Chris Cherry, whose family runs Wooyung Camping Ground where many patrons stayed and who is on the festival’s regulatory working group, said she was generally pleased with the event.
“We were very impressed with their noise control and we didn’t see any evidence of illegal camping along the beaches,’’ Ms Cherry said.
But Ms Cherry said infrastructure and transport problems – which saw north-bound traffic backed up through Pottsville on Monday – needed to be fixed before the festival was allowed to increase in size.
“I really think they need to demonstrate they can make it work for 25,000 people before they go up,’’ Ms Cherry said.
Development approval was granted on a five-year trial basis, with the festival limited to 25,000 patrons in the first year, with a gradual increase in numbers to 35,000 patrons over the following four years.
The approval also restricts organisers to a maximum of three events on the site per year during the trial period.
