More than 11,000 people were set to flock to the Victorian town of Donald for the Esoteric Festival next weekend but the event may be cancelled at the last minute.
Buloke Shire Council officers have recommended the event’s 2025 permit application be denied due to health and safety concerns.
The council said festival organisers jumped the gun by selling thousands of online tickets ranging in price from $355 to $375 without obtaining the proper permits.
The heat did not stop attendees from dancing up a storm last year. (ABC Wimmera: Angus Mackintosh)
Tickets at the gate were advertised for $475.
Buloke councillors will vote on the recommendation to refuse the new 10-year permit at this Monday’s ordinary council meeting.
Esoteric festival organisers said they were hopeful council would vote in their favour.
Last year 250 people at the festival fell sick from a gastroenteritis outbreak.
Dancers left plenty of room for each other and did not scatter their rubbish at the event. (ABC Wimmera: Angus Mackintosh)
Cash injection in doubt
The celebration of psychedelic music and arts injects much needed cash into the town of 1,600.
But Buloke Shire Council CEO Wayne O’Toole told ABC Statewide Mornings that council officers did not think the event was safe.
He acknowledged the enthusiasm in Donald about the event but said health and safety had to be prioritised.
“I guess the alternative is that the organiser would make changes to the nature of the event, how it might be run,” Mr O’Toole said.
“Eleven-thousand people coming into the area is quite significant and you know, broadly, council is very supportive of the event, but it’s just important that it does proceed in a safe manner.
“We’ve attempted over a long period of time to be able to work with the organiser, but we really just haven’t been able to come to a conclusion where the officers are comfortable, as I say, to be able to recommend that the event should proceed.
“We certainly do recognise that the organiser has an awful lot of volunteers that get involved and … the Lions Club and all those service clubs also play a part.”
About 7,500 eager ravers descended on Donald for Esoteric 2024. (ABC Wimmera: Angus Mackintosh)
‘We’ve ticked every box’
Esoteric Music Festival managing director Sam Goldsmith said he believed councillors would grant the permit.
“We’ve ticked every box required to this point and addressed all concerns from authorities,” he said.
“It hasn’t been an easy process, but at the end of the day I just want to make sure I’m doing everything correct and getting permits needed, because I want to ensure the safety of everyone around.
“It’s a $15.7-million influx to the Victorian economy and we’re certainly doing everything we can.“
