The future of Victorian bush doof Yemaya Festival has been thrown into uncertainty after the local council denied its permit due to drug and safety concerns.
As ABC reports, the Loddon Shire received a number of objections from the community – one from the police department – that resulted in festival not being approved a permit.
"Their main concern was drug and alcohol abuse and [patrons] leaving the scene quite clearly affected...quite significant cases of it and a vehicle rollover, which was dangerous,” Loddon Shire Mayor Neil Beattie told ABC.
Set to go down later this month, the Northern Victoria festival has taken to Facebook to say they are “still liaising with council to overcome a few objections from local residents” and are “at the point of considering contingency plans for the festival, including a potential date change if it comes to it.”
“We still have great faith that we can overcome the last few obstacles to the permit and are doing everything in our power to save our hopes and dreams alongside, we suspect, quite a few of yours,” a statement on the Yemaya Festival reads.
Promoters have assured ticketholders that refunds will be offered if ”circumstances change significantly”.
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