Patrons with one-day early entry or standard vehicle entry tickets will no longer be admitted to this year’s Mundi Mundi Bash, the festival’s founder and organiser, Greg Donovan, announced today (19 August).
The news wasn’t delivered lightly, with the festival team devastated to turn patrons away. But, due to torrential rain and unsafe site conditions, there’s no longer “sufficient camping capacity” to accept additional ticket holders beyond the two- and three-day early entry campers.
This year’s Mundi Mundi Bash takes place from tomorrow (20 August) until Saturday, 22 August. Donovan’s announcement arrived after heavy rain forced organisers to pause entry to the festival site this afternoon, the ABC notes.
Earlier today, organisers confirmed that roll-in to the festival remained “on standby and the gates are closed.” Patron vehicles were no longer permitted to enter the grounds “until further notice,” with the festival crew “assessing conditions following several days of rain.”
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In a statement, they added, “If you are in Broken Hill or in transit, please remain where you are and do not travel to Mundiville until we confirm that roll in is open. Traffic control is in place in Silverton to enforce this.
“We will provide another update as soon as the assessment is complete. Please continue to monitor our official social media channels, the Bash App and Bash FM 99.9, and share this update with anyone planning to arrive today.”
The ABC also noted that Wilangee Road, which is used to access the festival, had closed “to all vehicles except four-wheel-drives.”
The festival, located 40 kilometres north-west of Broken Hill, has sold out and was expected to welcome 15,000 punters to its grounds.
“Our site team has now completed a thorough assessment of site conditions. Regrettably, we no longer have sufficient camping capacity to accept any additional ticket holders beyond our 2 Day and 3 Day Early Entry campers,” Donovan’s statement began.
It continued, “We can accept only these ticket holders until 5pm today, and again from 7am tomorrow. However, with further rain forecast overnight, we recommend arriving today if you can do so safely.”
Donovan added that the festival grounds are now closed to entry “for patrons with 1 Day Early Entry or Standard Vehicle Entry tickets who were planning to camp onsite or attend the festival as day-trippers.
“Any of the few remaining 2- and 3-Day Early Entry campers who have not yet entered are now welcome, and our camping marshals are on hand ready to direct you into a suitable campsite.”
Donovan informed fans that he makes “many complex and difficult decisions” as part of his role, “but this has been the most gut-wrenching decision I have ever had to make, and it sits heavily on my shoulders. I am profoundly saddened and upset that this has happened.”
He added that it’s been “an incredibly challenging time” for the event team and its volunteers, who have worked tirelessly in difficult situations “across a sodden site.”
Donovan also outlined the severity of the weather conditions and how they’ve impacted the festival’s ability to go ahead. “The rain experienced over an 11-day period is close to, and will likely exceed, the all-time Broken Hill August rainfall record of 74mm, set in 1973,” he said. “This follows an already very wet winter, with double the average rainfall falling across June and July.
“The site held up well following a 42mm rain event on 8 and 9 August and was ready to welcome this year's Bashers,” he continued.
“However, further rain during the Roll In period has had a significant impact because the ground was already saturated. As a result, approximately 25% to 30% of the site is now unsuitable for camping over the coming days, particularly with the further rain now forecast for Thursday.”
Donovan stated that while it’s been a “necessary” decision, “it is not the experience we ever wanted for our Bashers.
“As an organiser who always puts our patrons first, I have thought deeply about those who were excited to attend and who put so much effort into preparing for and travelling to the festival,” he wrote, empathising with patrons’ disappointment, frustration, and heartbreak.
He continued, “While we must now focus on delivering a great, albeit muddy, festival for those onsite, our hearts and thoughts are with everyone who can no longer be here to enjoy the Bash with us this year.
“From the bottom of my heart, I would also like to thank our crew, volunteers, contractors and every person involved in the event. They have worked extraordinarily hard throughout this challenging period, and I am incredibly grateful for their commitment and determination.”
Donovan concluded the statement by sharing that one-day early entry and standard entry vehicle pass holders will receive communications from Oztix next week “with details regarding refunds of festival and activity tickets and vehicle entry passes.”
This year’s edition of the Mundi Mundi Bash features a line-up of impressive homegrown talent, including The Teskey Brothers, Jon Stevens, John Butler, Boy & Bear, Baby Animals, Jessica Mauboy, The Whitlams, and many others.
