“It’s been a journey”: Splendour & Falls finally call Parklands home

After almost nine years, Splendour in the Grass and Falls Byron Bay finally got the green light from authorities to call North Byron Parklands their permanent home.

After a successful 6½ year trial, the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) announced its decision to approve Parklands’ application as an outdoor cultural, arts and music venue.

Aside from staging the two major festivals, Parklands will also have the ability to host community events in addition to a small number of one-day concerts.

“This will see Parklands attracting world class artists to the region across a range of music genres.,” according to the venue’s release.

While the owners of Parklands have invested more than $25 million into the venue to date, the permanent approval means Parklands can invest further to improve the functionality and amenity of the site.

Parklands and the two major events will continue to provide the annual Community Grants program which since 2013 has given over $630,000 to community, educational and environmental groups across the Shire.

Significant employment opportunities will continue to be generated by the venue, with large numbers of individuals and businesses benefiting from operations at Parklands.

The proposed environmentally sustainable wastewater treatment system was withdrawn from the application to allow further detailed modelling to be undertaken.

As per a signed agreement with the NSW environment minister, Parklands will also finalise the gifting of more than 41ha of densely forested lands to National Parks and Wildlife Services that will increase the size of the Billinudgel Nature Reserve by more than 3%.

Says North Byron Parklands general manager Mat Morris, “It’s been a journey.

“While the planning process has been a lengthy yet robust process, it’s great to finally receive approval to operate for up to 20 days per year.

“We’d like to thank the thousands of people that have supported North Byron Parklands along the way; the local residents and businesses and the wider community.

“These people have all played a vital role in making sure that this important outdoor cultural arts and music venue remains in Byron Shire.

“We look forward to bringing the Shire and the wider region some of the finest local and international artists to the venue as well as being able to host a range of smaller community-based events.”