The organisers of Secret Sessions Festival would like to take the opportunity to respond to several of the concerns and issues that have been raised across the media in numerous publications over the last few days.

 

The nature of this event has been exceedingly misrepresented by the media as a “rave” party where unlawful activities are acceptable. We would like to stress that this is absolutely not the case and there is an obvious poor understanding of our intentions. Secret Sessions is an all ages, family friendly event which is attended by many families on a yearly basis as an opportunity to come together as a community.

 

 

Initial application to host the event was administered to the Gold Coast City Council more than three months ago. Since that time, the land owners have been in regular contact with the council with regards to the event and had been given the indication that there would be no problem with the approval being granted on several occasions. Therefore, tickets went on sale August 10th at a price of $70.

 

 

We offer various types of music other than electronic styles such as reggae and freestyle vocals, and contrary to reports the music does not continue non-stop over the entire weekend, quite obviously due to the fact that it is a three day family event where a range of activities are on offer. The music does not play throughout an entire day where patrons are invited to take part in activities such as yoga, salsa lessons, qi gong meditations, drumming, photography, tree planting and an interactive circus show for the younger kids. Hardly dangerous and reckless behaviour!

 

 

In addition, to combat any noise produced from the event measures were to be taken in order to minimise the disruption to residents in the area. Land has been made available located deeper into the forest where speakers will be turned away from residents and sound deadening devices were to be put in place around the immediate music areas. As stated by journalist Darren Cartwright from the Brisbane Times, the Commissioner for Corrective Services Kelvin Anderson said "The noise is not our major concern…”.

 

 

To address the issue of Numinbah Correctional Centre’s proximity to the event, it is in fact over 2km away from the entrance to the property discordant with statements made by Ms Leah Fineran in the Gold Coast Bulletin that it is “only a few hundred metres away”. The security issue faced by the Correctional Centres’ history of breakouts are a completely separate matter that needs to be addressed by Queensland Corrective Services, and has no bearing on the event being held. It is a wonder that the community and council has not addressed their concerns of security over the numerous prison escapes by inmates over the past decade, and are of the opinion that a music event is unfavoured and presumably convicted criminals are acceptable in the area.

 

 

Since the release of the articles the land owners have been inundated by calls from residents of Numinbah Valley in total support of the event who have emphasised that the reports of community disapproval are incorrect, unsupported and merely the opinion of Mr Peter Yaun alone.

 

 

Despite reports, Secret Sessions will NOT be selling alcohol or any illegal and unlicensed items at the event. We will however offer market stalls, food, first aid, and an abundance of 24 hour professional contracted security services. As per last year, the event organisers have taken several measures to ensure that the environmental impact is minimal and the land is left as it was before the event. If there was evidence to the contrary the land owners would not be permitting this festival to go forward for a second year on their property. More than 50 bins and 3 skips were to be on site, rubbish bags provided to all who entered as well as a final and thorough clean up afterwards.

 

We are shocked and saddened at the reference to the death of a girl at an event in New South Wales, an event not comparable to Secret Sessions. This unfortunate incident is irrelevant and currently being investigated as a homicide.

 

 

We can only say that the organisers have been happy to accommodate all requests made by council for this event to go ahead and have been met with information and articles being released without prior knowledge of councils’ decision, incorrect representation of the festival and unauthorised use of photographs. We are an unsponsored, independent community event who has tried to do the right thing by the local community and the council, and the manner in which this has been handled will only serve to push youthful events such as this further underground where actions cannot be controlled or monitored.

 

Regards

Secret Sessions Team