Byron Ratepayers' Association President, John Bailey.

The Northern Star

OWNERS of Yelgun's proposed Splendour in The Grass site are taking the Byron Shire Council to court over their development application for the event site.

North Byron Shire Parklands, which owns the 256-hectare site, submitted a development application in November, 2006, to host Splendour in The Grass at the site.

“We have since missed the opportunity to undertake a trial festival in 2007 and 2008, and to date we do not have a position from council on our application for 2009,” company general manager Mat Morris said.

“Recent discussions with council staff reveal there is uncertainty as to when a decision will be made on the current DA. With time running out to undertake the necessary site preparations for hosting Splendour next year, it is with great reluctance we announce a decision to appeal the matter to the NSW Land and Environment Court.”

But Byron Shire Council General Manager Graeme Faulkner 'rejected out of hand' Mr Morris's comments.

“The DA lodged by Parklands for the 2007 festival was withdrawn after a great deal of limited council resources had been applied to process their request, resources which could have been easily applied to other applicants,” Mr Faulkner said.

“In February this year, staff were about to report on the assessment of the DA for the proposed 2008 festival when Parklands abandoned it, informing council they would be amending their application and, at the time, issuing a media release stating that they 'still had more work to do'.

“The current DA before the council was amended as late as March this year by the applicant and consequently placed back out on exhibition in April-May this year.”

Byron Shire Ratepayers' Association President John Bailey said residents had grave concerns about the festival being moved to Yelgun.

“That site has huge issues, such as environmental and flooding, and a lot of money was spent a few years ago to protect the wildlife corridor connected to the site,” he said.