Rainbow Serpent Set To Be Cancelled Over Safety Concerns

Victorian dance festival Rainbow Serpent is poised to be cancelled just over a week out from the event after the organisers Green Ant failed to acquire a permit from the Pyrenees Shire Council due to safety concerns.

With festival staff already on the Lexton site setting up for the Friday 25 January opening day, they renowned festival is still waiting on a Place of Public Entertainment [PoPE] license. For the 2013 event council ruled – on the advice of emergency service providers Ambulance Victoria, CFA and Victoria Police – that the festival could not satisfy the safety requirements.

As a result of reviewing their medical and fire plans, the festival had enlisted a new service provider for the 2013 event. The council were notified of the change on Monday, however a lack of documentation prompted the council to withhold the licence.

A crisis meeting was held yesterday between organisers and the council, with Green Ant offering to revert back to their original providers. In a statement they said that due to “bureaucratic process” that council had been unwilling to “reconsider their refusal.”

Today Pyrenees Shire Mayor Michael O'Connor told theMusic.com.au that based on yesterday's meeting, “At this point the council will not change its mind.” He added that he had spoken to the original service provider this morning, but, “he said categorically that he is not onboard.”

Both sides agree that the festival's cancellation will be catastrophic for the region, but Mayor O'Connor remained adamant that the council had no option in not granting the license.

“There will be a huge loss for the Shire,” he said, “and it's not something we took lightly. I've had a relationship with the festival for ten years through my work with the Shire… I'm also part of the fire service that, with funds generated by the festival, were able to buy a new tanker – and have a healthy bank account. That's just one example, but there are many more… it's a hell of a lot better than selling sausages or lamingtons.”

He also said the loss of the festival will be a blow for “Presenting our Shire to tens of thousands of people. But ultimately we can't approve the festival if we can't guarantee the safety.”

The organisers estimate that the event generates $1 million for the local community each year and admit that site construction is “almost complete” and international artists are already travelling to Australia.

They said, “We are currently following through with appeal processes and will not give up in trying to reach out to the Pyrenees Council and authorities and hope with the support of our amazing, passionate community, the sculptures will be built, the lights will be turned on, the workshops will be held and we can once again dance together at our stunning home in Lexton.”

But as of this morning, hopes of saving the event for 2013 are low. “They have a right of appeal, but there's no guarantee that can be lodged and heard in time,” Mayor O'Connor said. “You never completely shut the door, but I can't see council changing their mind.”

3PM UPDATE: Rainbow Serpent organisers have launched a final bid to save the festival, and have secured a 4.30pm meeting with council with the hope that they'll reconsider their withholding of a PoPE licence.

Organisers have asked fans to sign a petition and politely lobby the Victorian Ambulance service to show support.

“We are confident we have the measures in place to provide a safe environment at Rainbow Serpent 2013,” they said. “They just need to give it their approval.”