Entertainment
Festivals return to the North Coast
At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti.
Festivals return to the North Coast
By Christine Tondorf
THE biggest Northern Rivers event since the pandemic started was held in Nimbin over the weekend – MardiGrass.
Organisers say a crowd of about 2500 attended the protest festival, which calls for the reform of Australia’s cannabis laws.
Hemp Embassy president Michael Balderstone said the size of the crowd had exceeded organisers’ expectations.
“It was a beautiful, peaceful protest,” Mr Balderstone said.
MardiGrass, which began 28 years ago, was cancelled last year due to the pandemic. This year it took place just four weeks after the NSW Health Minster signed a public health order stopping Byron Bay’s Bluesfest from proceeding.
“It was pretty nerve racking the last few weeks,” Mr Balderstone said.
“We had lots of talks with police and health and council, but we got the green light.”
Lismore City Council public health officer Cameron Smith said MardiGrass organisers had been happy to put together a Covid plan for an outdoor event, which included QR code registering.
“The organisers were very receptive to council’s suggestions because they wanted a positive successful event to go ahead, and we wanted everyone to go home healthy and safe. We don’t want anything to happen in the region which might impact other events as they come back online.”
Upcoming festivals planned for the Northern Rivers include the Mullumbimby Renew Fest (May 7 -9), the Byron Comedy Fest (May 13-16) and the Northern Rivers Crystal and Craft Festival (June 12 -14). The Falls Festival and the Byron Bay Writers Festival are also on track to be held in winter.
The NSW Labor Opposition is lobbying the State Government to offer financial support to Bluesfest. Shadow Minister for Music John Graham said a business interruption fund was needed for festival organisers to confidently plan large-scale events without risking huge losses.
Mr Balderstone said the only downside to MardiGrass was the number of police drug testing sites set up around the town, with many people charged with drug offences.
This complaint was echoed by Greens NSW Upper House members Cate Faehrmann and David Shoebridge.
“Dozens of police are targeting every car driving into MardiGrass with random roadside drug testing,” Ms Faehrmann wrote on social media.
“What a stupid pointless waste of public money just to ruin innocent lives.”
Mr Shoebridge wrote, “Nimbin during MardiGrass is a safe supporting and positive community. It’s also grossly over policed, especially on the road in and out with squads of police and multiple police vans at every entry.”
Former Lismore magistrate David Heilpern said both Ms Faehrmann and Mr Shoebridge were also drug tested by police over the weekend.
“Clearly the police are trying to shut MardiGrass down by using the road traffic laws to deter people from coming,” Mr Heilpern said.
“It is not a road safety operation – it is a prohibition agenda.
“I’m sure the real criminals of the Northern Rivers were delighted that huge police resources were thrown into this victimless crime.
“A ring of testing vehicles surrounded Nimbin for the weekend. What a waste of resources.
“There is absolutely no evidence that drug detection testing leads to less road trauma.”
