Held over five days in regional Victoria and featuring 100+ bands, DJs, and producers across multiple stages, the international music and arts festival Rainbow Serpent is looking down the barrel of being cancelled just one week out from its 2013 edition, after problems with its Places of Public Entertainment (POPE) permit not yet being granted by the local Pyrneness Council.
A statement issued by Rainbow Serpent organisers this morning confirms that the event has been denied the crucial permit by the Pyreness Shire Council after it was unsatisfied that all relevant safety and statutory requirements had been met by festival organisers, reports The Courier.
The council’s decision comes after the provider of fire and medical services used by organisers pulled out from Rainbow Serpent on Monday, promoters sought alternative services but failed to give emergency service agencies appropriate documentation for the POPE permit to prove their ability to proceed.
The notice from Rainbow Serpent reads:
This is the first time in 16 years the Pyrenees Council believe we have not met the conditions necessary to issue us a POPE permit, even though we strongly believe Rainbow 2013 would have been and still can be the best resourced and safest Rainbow to date.
For 2013 our medical and fire plans were reviewed to take on board suggestions and changes and our new plans were supported and endorsed by the authorities. Part of this review included a change of service providers with the intention of an improved level of service.
However, due to the lateness of the change in providers Ambulance Victoria and Regional CFA expressed concern and a lack of confidence and withdrew their support for the festival. On these grounds council decided to not issue us the permit.”
The revisions to their emergency services was heavily influenced by last year’s tragic turn of events, where 34-year-old Daniel Buccianti died of a drug-related overdose on illicit substances.
Pyreness Shire council say that Buccianti’s death has had little impact on their decision to deny Rainbow Serpent the POPE permit.
“It’s a completely separate issue,” Pyrenees Shire mayor Michael O’Connor tells The Courier. “Obviously the death at the festival and the increased size of the festival year after year are all issues that need to be addressed,” he says; “but at the end of the day the loss of the original (fire and medical services) provider and the inability to substantiate the criteria of the new provider were key.”
“We had no confidence in the new provider and the agencies weren’t prepared to support it,” adds Mayor O’Connor.
Rainbow Serpent organisers are still hopeful that they can satisfy the council’s decision, this morning’s notice stating with a hint of optimism:
We would like to say how absolutely devastated we are to find ourselves in the position of not yet having a POPE Permit for Rainbow Serpent Festival 2013. We say “yet” because we know that if council and authorities want to continue to support Rainbow and the very real benefit we bring to the local community there is still time for the permit to be granted. During the floods of 2011 our POPE permit was only granted a few days before the festival, once the site was deemed safe.”
Emphasising that: “It is not unusual for a POPE permit to be granted during the final months or weeks prior to a large event.” Adding that, organisers are “currently following through with appeal processes and will not give up in trying to reach out to the Pyrenees Council and authorities.”
“[We] hope with the support of our amazing, passionate community, the sculptures will be built, the lights will be turned on, the workshops will be held and we can once again dance together at our stunning home in Lexton.”
UPDATE: Organisers of Rainbow Serpent have issued a notice on their Facebook page that reads:
Hey guys, update time!
We have a council meeting scheduled for 4.30pm this afternoon! Council have opened the door to reconsider the POPE permit application. This is a great step! We now need Country Fire Authority, Victoria Police and most importantly Ambulance Victoria to show their support for our beautiful festival.
We are confident we have the measures in place to provide a safe environment at Rainbow Serpent 2013. They just need to give it their approval.
