Electronic music festival Earthcore is heading to Elmore, but its organiser has lashed out at perceived social bias placed on alternative music, labelling it an “ignorant mentality”.
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The event, usually held in Pyalong, was refused a permit for 2017 by Mitchell Shire Council amid concerns of drug use and organiser Spiro Boursine said revellers weren’t all “animal killers”.
“Electronic dance music is portrayed as devil-worshiping, animal-killing satanic music,” he said, arguing the level of drug taking was no different at mainstream festivals across Victoria.
Elmore Events Centre was a different location to the majority of the self-styled ‘bush doofs’, which were generally on private, farming land, requiring a number of permits, Mr Boursine said.
As the centre is already zoned for public gatherings, Earthcore only needs a Public Place of Entertainment (POPE) occupancy permit from Campaspe Shire Council.
The Elmore Events Centre, home to equestrian and agricultural events and an annual Seventh-day Adventist convention, was a “natural fit” for the festival, Mr Boursine said, adding the festival would bring a economic benefit to the region.
“It’s probably the most advanced festival site in regional Australia,” he said.
Elmore Field Days manages the centre and its president Derek Shotton said he was comfortable possible concerns with the festival had been addressed.
“We've done our due diligence on the organisation (Earthcore) and they meet our preference for supporting local business and sourcing locally,” he said.
Public angst surrounding alternative music festivals and their perceived associations with drug taking was no different to those in Elmore who didn’t like horses or religion, Mr Shotton said, referencing the equestrian and religious events held at the centre.
“The reality is we're an events centre and we're here to be hired,” he said.
The Elmore Events Centre confirmed the event, which could hold 5000 people, would be held at the site in Rosaia Road from November 23 to 27.
Drug use not endemic in ‘doofs’
Assertions that revellers attending electronic dance festivals were more prone to drug taking were incorrect and biased, according to Spiro Boursine, organiser of Earthcore festival, to be held in Elmore for the first time this year.
Earthcore’s 2016 event, held in Pyalong, was marred by the death of a 40-year-old woman, although the cause of death is yet to be determined, and is still under investigation by the Coroners Court of Victoria.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the death was not suspicious but festival organisers say she may have had an existing medical condition.
However, nineteen drug diversion notices were handed out, 28 people were cautioned for possession cannabis, four people were interviewed for possessing a drug of dependence and 32 were detected drug-driving at the festival.
These figures were similar, if not lower, than larger, mainstream festivals that operate throughout Victoria, but that was not readily reported, Mr Boursine said.