Objections from Bulli residents are unlikely to stop a New Year’s Eve dance and music event from being held.
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The Wollongong Local Planning Panel will decide the fate of the Last Dance warehouse party next week.
Wollongong event organisers Yours and Owls want to host the party on Monday, December 31 at Bulli Showground.
About 3000 party-goers will say goodbye to 2018 and hello to 2019 by listening to respected international and Australian DJs at the licenced, over-18s, sold-out event.
The development application to use the showground received 11 submissions that opposed the location and one letter of support.
Event organiser Ben Tillman said all the residents’ concerns could be mitigated.
Some residents raised concerns about insufficient car parking for party-goers and that traffic would build up on residential streets.
“We have organised shuttle buses to transport people,” Mr Tillman said. “I would encourage event-goers to use the service.”
Free shuttle buses will run every 30 minutes between 11:30pm and 3:30am to Wollongong to provide a public transport option after scheduled trains and buses have finished. The bus stop and train station are within walking distance.
There will be parking for 600 vehicles plus an area for overflow parking. There will also be Uber and taxi pick up and drop off points.
Residents also objected to the 3am finish time because of the noise.
“All the audio and sound production gear has been designed to minimise noise pollution,” Mr Tillman said.
“There will be four points of audio shooting into the middle of the crowd and there will be drapery over the warehouse to minimise noise.
“I am confident in the gear we are using so noise pollution can be mitigated.”
The report for the Wollongong Local Planning Panel recommends the event finish at 2am so there is no noise or disturbance to residents by 3am.
Mr Tillman said neighbouring residents were invited to attend the event for free. Vandalism and waste generated by the event were raised as concerns.
Mr Tillman said cleaning crews were hired to come clean up after the event and there would be licenced security guards to monitor behaviour.
“We pride ourselves on leaving minimal impact after our events,” he said. “We have not had any vandalism problems in the past so I don’t see why that would be the case with this event.
“This event is boutique and high-end. I am confident the crowd will be well-behaved.”
The event, which will start at 7pm, will have a stage inside a warehouse, an outside stage, bars and food stalls.
The event will feature Motor City Drum Ensemble, Mall Grab, Midland, Moxie, Ben Fester, Nite Fleit, Adi Toohey, Parkside Djs and Freda and Jackson.
