THE Folk, Rhythm and Life Festival is looking to fight a ruling by Wangaratta council to prohibit the Eldorado-based event from being staged next month as satisfactory documentation was not submitted within the mandatory timeframes.
The main concern by council was around the event’s emergency management plan and council’s “lack of time to test and approve amended plans”.
However, event organiser Hamish Skermer, contests the assertion and plans to seek legal counsel as he isn’t satisfied due process has been fulfilled nor has there been a fair hearing.
Mr Skermer said he met with council and he doesn’t believe it has performed its duty in reviewing previous documentation.
“We followed the permit (guidelines) but agencies the CFA and VicPol have changed the goalposts,” he said, referring partly to bushfire overlays on the Woolshed Road property Bilyana where the festival has been held over many years.
Event organisers submitted the emergency management plan on September 26 and thought it was complete because it was based upon all previously endorsed documents.
Mr Skermer said it clearly states that all further documentation to be submitted must be based on, and in accordance to, the 2018 plan.
“We first contacted the CFA on April 19 and they’ve had all year to contact us about any concerns they might have,” he said.
“They’ve said at the most recent meetings (October 20 and November 3) that there’s not enough time for them to review our emergency management plan.”
“We still remain hopeful that we could run a bridge document that’s suitable because we’ve done 37 events over 27 years that have been in total 70 days of events.
“There has not been one single police incident and there have been two ambulance callouts for asthma attack and a minor injury.”
The event has run since 1996 and usually attracts 3000-4000. 
Wangaratta council said it is committed to work with event organisers and other authorities to consider how this festival can be supported in future years.
In consultation with external agencies and emergency services, the Rural City of Wangaratta reported that it has not been able to obtain satisfactory event documentation to ensure the health and safety of attendees at the planned festival in December.  
Council director of sustainability and culture, Stephen Swart, said with the safety of attendees unable to be satisfactorily established in the event documentation and the lack of time to test and approve amended plans, council is unable to endorse the event going ahead in December.
“While they know this event not going ahead this year will be very disappointing, council must consider the practical implications of the dynamic event location and the potentially tragic outcomes should there be an emergency on site,” Mr Swart said.
“Rural City of Wangaratta works hard to encourage events taking place within the community and acknowledges the benefit that they provide. 
“We have legislation guiding planning permits and work with experts in other agencies to make decisions such as this.
“We have encouraged the event organiser to continue to work with us and other authorities to consider how future events can be supported including considering a different time of year and providing sufficient time for event plans to be considered and tested.”