The Peregian Originals can continue until at least June after talks between organisers and Council on the 22nd of December. More than two thousand fans of the free live music event, the biggest crowd ever in its 10-year history, turned up on Sunday 19 December to protest Council plans to end it after complaints by some Peregian residents. The deal struck with Council is for a traffic management plan, sufficient garbage bins, toilets, security and first aid. And to provide proper liability insurance cover, an incorporated non-profit association has to be founded. One wonders why these things couldn’t have been put in place long ago before such an ugly, acrimonious stoush had to flare. The dispute over the Originals was the main story in Diet and Mark’s “What’s Going On?” on Wednesday 23 December.
They also revisited the worries of Kin Kin people over a huge quarry due to start operating near the town next year, and told the story of a 20-month-old girl in agony with infected tonsils for as long as she’s been alive because Queensland Health doesn’t provide enough funding for operations
Tiny-tot in tonsillitis agony because no operation available
(Running time 5 mins 56 secs)
Money coming in for Kin Kin legal challenge
On the evening of 16 December people packed a Kin Kin hall to vent their worries over the quarry due to start enlarging and operating there soon. Council says it’s powerless because a court judgment allows the expansion plans. We heard from Gary Martin, the spokesperson for the Kin Kin Community group, that money is being collected to challenge that ruling.
(Running time 5 mins 25 secs)
You can join an e-petition, stating that the “Kin Kin Pomona Rd is totally inadequate to cater for the large quarry trucks, and without substantial upgrade a serious accident is almost guaranteed”. The petition is available at Kin Kin Quarry iPetitions. And if you get an MP to sponsor it, you can launch a petition to the Queensland Parliament. Access that by going to Queensland Parliament petitions (PDF document).
A song to save the Originals
Local singer-songwriter, Harii Bandhu, one of the leaders of the Save the Peregian Originals campaign, composed a song for the occasion.
Harii Bandhu composed a song about saving the Originals
(Running time 5 mins 48 secs)
A much-loved community event
(Running time 4 mins 20 secs)
Linda Grace (left) gathered the voices
The deal struck between Council and the Originals organisers seems to address most of the issues over this iconic Sunshine Coast event, hotly disputed in public in recent weeks. Linda Grace was at the biggest Peregian Originals gig ever and gathered opinions among the hundreds of people there.
Hundreds showing their love for the event
Thirteen-year-old Alys Longmate, one of the youngest-ever performers, who started playing the event aged 12, finds the atmosphere “so amazing, like nothing else”. “How lucky we are to live in such a friendly place.” A view shared by many – a tragedy if it were allowed to end, said a woman. A family community event, everyone can bring their kids, the music is great, all very harmonious. “I love looking around and seeing young and old here. I’ve been coming for quite a while and have never seen any problems, any violence. Everyone takes pride in and loves the event.” Kids love it for the playground and the beach. Anna Sweeney explained why it’s good for families. Veteran Coast singer-songwriter, Barry Charles, as well as performing has always liked being in the crowd. He hopes for a better understanding between all parties. “It’s an understanding that we’ve got to have. This is special to the community; we’ve also got to understand the rights of other people.”
The parking issue
(Running time 3 mins 15 secs)
Mayor Bob Abbott worried mostly about public liability
Parking and traffic safety has been one of the big issues in this dispute. Mayor Bob Abbott explained that Council paid $2,000 for traffic management on the day. Something like it needs to happen each time, he argues. Lack of traffic management leaves individuals running Peregian Originals highly exposed and in a dangerous position. Jay Bishoff, who has run the event for all of its 10 years, explained the closure of some streets to all but local residents. Most of the traffic was parked on a sports oval across David Low Way. A parking attendant explained the details. Two residents said they have no major problems with the event. But a stallholder at the market before the Originals lost important pre-Christmas business because of parking restrictions and fears in future shoppers will just drive on to other places if they can’t park in Peregian.
“Insurer would walk away”
(Running time 7 mins 40 secs)
One of the acts on the 19th was Roz and the Wayward gentlemen. Allan Kelly of The Barleyshakes, our own local Irish band, explained that it was Peregian Originals that attracted them to live in this area. Mary O’Neil, one of the organisers almost from the word go, finds it a wonderful cultural event at a time when community is very important. She enjoys the social aspect. “I’ve seen people grow up to be budding musicians and then also some to go on to international success. I’ve seen people fall in love, I’ve seen all sorts of things.”
A woman likes the friendly atmosphere, the music, everyone donating their time. She never saw any trouble, has never had trouble parking – “it’s just a matter of being organised”.
Jay Bishoff, organiser of the Peregian Originals for all its 10 years
Mayor Bob Abbott was more worried about indemnity than about the parking congestion as such. “This thing’s getting bigger and bigger,” he told Linda Grace, “if there’s one accident and the traffic management plan hasn’t been instigated [Jay Bishoff’s public liability] insurer will walk away and say, ‘sorry Jay, it’s down to you’ and he has no chance. That’s what I’ve been trying to resolve for a number of months. We need an incorporated community organisation to run this and just let Jay get on with the business of running the music.”
The clash in Council
(Running time 4 mins 32 secs)
Councillor Russell Green has been taking most of the heat over the suggestion to rotate the Originals among other venues. And Originals organisers found a champion in Yaroomba-based Division 8 Councillor, Debbie Blumel.
Councillor Russell Green apologised for his part in "poor communication"
Russell said there had been some really great discussions with the organisers. It was up to supporters to decide the event’s future. “Probably what happened over the last six months – none of us have communicated well together and I apologise for the role that I’ve played in that, but we are moving forward. And what we want to do is take on board everybody – the community, the residents, the traders, the great musicians and the energy you’ve got. Council will be there supporting it.”
Jay Bishoff argues that Council came on side because of the public’s demand that this event continue. He said Debbie Blumel had been the only councillor to do something on behalf of the Originals cause. Up to now it hadn’t been Council making the decisions but one or two members of Council.
Councillor Debbie Blumel wants a vote by the whole council
Together we will get this show back on the road, Debbie Blumel said. Her moving the motion for all-of-council handling of the issue had already stopped the rot and invited a more considered approach, she argued. Council had a commitment to developing artistic and cultural opportunities and to fostering and encouraging creativity. “Peregian Originals is a key part of the social fabric of the Sunshine Coast. It’s a significant community event and it’s worthy of consideration by all the councillors. Let there be no ambiguity about who is saving Peregian Originals and who is prepared to let it die.”
“If we citizens do not support our artists….we will end up with worthless dreams”
(Running time 10 mins 4 secs)
Listen or download the entire What’s Going On show of 58 minutes here:
View our full range of photos of the Save The Peregian Originals
Firstly, Peregian Originals would like to express full gratitude for Noosa Community Radio’s consistent support through the years.
Some clarification regarding the Dec. 23rd posting: Peregian Originals has always had full public liability insurance and we have always provided the required security for Peregian Originals concerts. We also faithfully provide the Council-required toilets. The main problem with rubbish has always been that the market stall holders and the public fill all the bins before our event even starts. Of course, they overflow during our event.
The main issue with Council was traffic management, but the REAL main issue with Council was that they were trying to shut down the event and make it go away quietly, as they have been very pressed by a very small group of antagonistic Peregian residents for many months. I thought this was very clear to all by now.
Both Council and our group agreed there were thousands (more than 2 thousand confirmed) who attended on Dec. 20th.
Long live community radio! Jay
Jay Bishoff: “Peregian Originals has always had full public liability insurance” // Jan 6, 2010 at 6:09 am
[...] “Peregian Originals has always had full public liability insurance and we have always provided the required security for Peregian Originals concerts,” Mr Bishoff responded to our coverage of the 20 December event. [...]