Forestry managers, police and landholders on the Sunshine Coast have reported illegal doof parties being held on private properties, national parks and state forests.
A spokeswoman for HQ Plantations said illegal dance parties were occurring within plantation forests extending from Southeast Queensland to Kuranda in North Queensland.
‘These illegal parties are often organised using underground social media channels, with advance notice of the date and general vicinity however exact locations shared only on the day,’ the spokeswoman said.
PHOTO: forestry image supplied by HQ Plantations
‘There was a spate of occurrences in 2023 across various locations, some involving more than 150 attendees.
‘Prior information of some of these events was obtained and passed to police who interrupted the events. Whilst there have been fewer known occurrences this year, they are likely still occurring.’
Can be dangerous and harmful to environment
‘These events pose serious risk to those attending as access to the areas is often impassable to vehicle traffic, meaning an ambulance might not be able to gain access in an emergency,’ the HQ Plantations spokeswoman said.
‘In the event of a wildfire there are often limited evacuation options.
‘Illegal dance parties are not just a problem for land managers and law enforcement. Adverse impacts are also felt by neighbours and neighbouring communities.’
IMAGE: Josh Soren
The spokeswoman said impacts included noise disturbances to neighbours, hooning, drink driving, campfires left burning with potential to cause wildfires, illegal camping, human waste, litter and dumping and damage to plantation trees and native flora.
She said lost and disoriented, alcohol and drug affected people had been found in and near forests or trespassing on private property.
Gympie Police Inspector Brad Inskip said police were aware of an unregistered event advertised on social media regarding a party at Double Island between October 4 and 7.
Police attended the event and issued traffic infringement notices to serval motorists who were allegedly driving defective vehicles, without seatbelts. They also charged one person with drink driving.
Community divided over Mary Valley dance party in Nov
On the weekend of 1-3 November, some Mary Valley residents complained about amplified music from a large, three day dance party, which organisers said was a legal event. The Pineapple is not claiming this event was illegal.
Social media comments were divided about the Swamp Conscience dance party at Moy Pocket, with one commenter complaining about ‘unrelenting drum beats’ and another calling it an ‘awesome festival’.
A spokesperson for the Swamp Conscience dance party said the event was organised to comply with requirements for insurance, paramedics and limits on attendance.
‘Festival organisers spent over 10k on tickets for neighbourrs or airbnb accomodation.
‘The impact for the local economy is pretty big. No complaints were made directly to us. We do our best to give every neighbour our contact information and do what they ask in order to have anyone happy.’
Private property owners left with damage bill
Also in the Mary Valley, Tuchekoi landholder Faith Valencia Forrester was left with a damage bill of thousands of dollars when guests of her Airbnb property held an unauthorised dance party for hundreds of young people this year.
‘They said they were renting the property for a birthday party. They brought equipment to play amplified music and charged admission fees,’ Ms Valencia Forrester said.
‘Police were called but they took hours to attend, meaning most of the attendees were too affected by alcohol to leave safely until the next day.’
‘I’m still cleaning up the damage and not hopeful of being compensated for the cost.’
Police define legal and illegal parties
The Queensland Police Service website says to be ‘out of control’ a party must involve at least 12 people, with at least three engaging in out-of-control conduct. This includes:
- Trespassing
- Damaging property
- Disorderly conduct
- Fighting
- Obscene acts
- Unreasonable noise
- Obstructing traffic
- Being drunk in a public place
Jimna landholder applies to hold legal live music events on property
Meantime, a Jimna grazier and businessman has applied to Somerset Council to hold up to twenty Temporary Entertainment Events per year on his 258.9ha cattle property on Sunday Creek Road.
The applicant, Big A Developments, is not applying to hold doofs or raves, but low key live music events showcasing emerging musicians.
The company has hosted live music events on the Jimna site before, including Jungle Love (which moved from the Borumba Deer Park) and Participarty
PHOTO: Vivienne Wynter
The Jimna property borders on Conondale National Park. The Mary River Catchment Coordinating Council (MRCCC) submission to Somerset Council opposes the Big A Developments application citing concerns about noise impacts on koala habitat in the adjoining national park.
‘The site is simply not suitable for noisy events. Amplified music events are quite at odds with the nature conservation values of a National Park,’ says the submission.
Somerset council to decide
Somerset Regional Council Director of Planning, Luke Hannan, said council was working on outstanding issues with the applicant.
‘Council received two submissions, both objecting to the development application.
‘Council is generally supportive of new business ventures in the Somerset region,’ Mr Hannan said.
‘Key issues for consideration include noise, traffic, effluent disposal, bushfire hazards and water quality. Council is considering the impact of the development on adjoining land, including koala habitat.’
A decision is expected before the end of the year.
IMAGE of hands in silhouette at dance party by Mark Angelo Sampan.
This news feature was supported by the Local and Independent News Association (LINA).
