The event – Wild Horses – took place at private property near a winery in Cornella, with Campaspe Shire Council unwittingly approving the festival as they considered it a private, non-ticketed event.

According to the shire’s website, a Public Place of Entertainment (POPE) permit is required when the place where the event is being held is larger than 500 square metres and is enclosed, mostly enclosed or an admission fee is charged.

However, a number of social media posts on the event organiser’s Facebook page show individuals, but not organisers, selling tickets online. 

It also appears event guests were invited to a secret Facebook group to provide attendees details of proceedings.

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Social media posts for the 2016 event depict a flyer with international acts performing at the event, with a ticket price included, however no prices are attached to this year’s flyer in online posts.

Pictures of the festival taken on Friday evening also appear to show a group of people set up in the corner of a paddock, checking vehicles as they came through the entrance. 

Frustrated neighbour Matt McEvoy said he was approached by a festival organiser who offered to pay for his family to stay away from home for the weekend.

Similar to last year’s event, “outrageously excessive” noise ruined the family’s weekend, who had guests staying as part of birthday celebrations for their daughter.

“I'm most disappointed with the lack of attention and scrutiny the (Campaspe) shire have given it. They signed it off as a private event and are doing nothing about it,” he said.

Holding an event of this size without the required emergency management plans in place was dangerous, Mr McEvoy believed.

“A number of us around the area stand to lose everything if a fire gets out of control from an event like this. And it would happen so easily, even just the petrol cars driving in as they are could cause a fire.”

“The dangers for us are imminent really.”

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The area surrounding the event site – located off Tait-Hamilton Road, Cornella – is sparsely populated with a handful of neighbours.

“I don't begrudge people at all for wanting to enjoy a festival,” Mr McEvoy said.

“But I've attended (other festivals) in the past under the assumption everything was organised correctly so it doesn't upset the local community.”

Campaspe Shire Council regulatory and community services general manager, Paul McKenzie, suggested shire staff may have been given incorrect information when visiting the site on Friday. 

“Information provided on the day by the organiser outlined it was an invite-only event, a combined birthday party and engagement and did not require payment to the event,” he said.

“Information now available after the event suggests this may be incorrect. Once all facts are to hand, council will decide the course of action to be taken.”

Mr McKenzie said permits from various department are required when hosting events, which ensure public safety and environmental impacts are considered.

“The permits could relate to conditions on the use of the site, safety of structures, food handling, traffic management and emergency management,” he said.

“All are required to ensure risks to the public are assessed and actions taken to limit or remove the identified risks. We encourage all event organisers to make contact with council early in the planning of any event to discuss what permits may be required to ensure community safety.”

Wild Horses organiser Ben Naaman said attendees were asked to pay an entry fee donation to cover the event costs and denied offering to pay for alternative accommodation for Mr McEvoy. 

The event comes just weeks after another controversial ‘bush doof’ was held in the Campaspe Shire Council.

Earthcore in Elmore operated without approval for late-night noise, according to the Environment Protection Authority.

The shire, which along with the EPA received a number of complaints, approved a POPE permit for the five-day festival, but said it was up to event organisers to apply for appropriate EPA approval if they operated outside of  Environment Protection Act conditions.