RELATED: Maitreyans seek answers

AN electronic music and alternative lifestyle festival will not go ahead at Wooroonook Lakes, near Charlton, next weekend.

But rumours continue to swirl a non-authorised version of the popular Maitreya Festival will run from March 11-14 at a site nearby.

The whispers are being fuelled on the festival's Facebook page.

An update posted at 5pm on Friday said event organisers had "secured a fantastic new venue just down the road from the lake".

A further post on Saturday morning said the event was "100% GO GO GO" and that only 500 tickets remained online.

The social media posts came after organisers were ordered to cease use of their advertised site at Wooroonook Lakes on Friday.

Buloke Shire Council had sought to obtain enforcement orders to prevent the promoter continuing illegal works at the site through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Ticket-holders were to be notified by 4pm on Friday that the festival would not go ahead at Wooroonook Lakes.

A statement issued by council said event organisers had 14 days from Friday to clear all materials, shipping containers and other structures and undertake any necessary remediation works to the satisfaction of the responsible authority. 

The council last month refused to issue the promoter with an event permit after documents, including insurance, security bonds, emergency contingency plans, and agreements with Liquor Licensing and Ambulance Victoria, were not supplied by organisers. 

It says it has not issued a permit for the festival to be held elsewhere within the municipality.

Charlton Forum president Alan Getley said the festival not going ahead at the lakes was a major blow to the town.

He said the council's own figures showed the festival was worth at least $2.1 million to the Charlton community.

"We hope that the event won't be lost forever and that organisers will look favourably upon us and come back," he said.

"But obviously that's up to the organisers and promoters to make that happen.

"We are in constant dialogue with them. They are certainly disappointed that it's come to this.

"It's a pity that both parties could not come together and negotiate a successful outcome."

Mr Getley said the Forum, which acts as a liaison between ratepayers and the council, had received legal advice not to run its community barbecue at the Lakes.

The barbecue last year raised thousands of dollars for Charlton sporting and community organisations.

Around town, shops including Charlton Foodworks, Torney's IGA, The Boyz Cafe and Charlton Bakery, are displaying 'Keep Maitreya at Wooroonook' posters.

Mr Getley said businesses were near unanimous in wanting the festival to go ahead near Charlton.

He said it would not surprise if thousands of people still headed to Charlton for the long weekend.

"I think that is on the cards," he said.

"Realistically if that happened then the shire would have a bigger problem that they've got by not issuing a permit.

"If va whole bunch of people turned up I'm not sure how the shire would cope with that."

Not everyone seems convinced some form of the festival will go ahead.

Dozens of people - many of them from interstate - are attempting to sell their tickets on the festival's Facebook page.