12 February 2004 - 2 Comments

Angry Mystery Creek residents want the country's biggest Christian music festival moved from their doorstep. John Whitehead, whose property overlooked the main stage, says residents endured four days of noise from Parachute, which attracted more than 23,000 people to the Mystery Creek event centre last month. "The noise was diabolical."
A neighbour with a noise meter recorded 80 decibels at his home during the festival, said Mr Whitehead.

The resource consent for the event allows noise levels of 55 decibels.

It was the first time Parachute had been held at Mystery Creek.

Organisers have a five-year consent to use the venue, but the Waipa District Council stipulated a review after the first year.

That meeting on February 26 will include reports by council staff, police, health officials and community members.

Mr Whitehead said about 40 residents opposed to more festivals would attend the review with a petition.

If the consent was not revoked, noise restraints should be set at the 40-decibel level outlined in the district plan, he said.

"My 6-year-old daughter went to bed at 7pm and came out at 9.30pm crying her eyes out because she couldn't sleep.

"It's exhausting, the constant hammering of the bass and the noise until 12 at night, only to start up again at eight in the morning."

Mr Whitehead said a second petition would be presented to Mystery Creek management asking that future festivals be restricted to 24 hours and a 40-decibel level.

Council spokesman Wayne Green said the consent could be amended only if breaches had occurred.

He said a noise reading taken by council staff during the festival at a neighbouring property had been at the maximum permissible level.

Mystery Creek general manager Barry Quayle said neighbours should be aware that the site was classified as a noisy area.

"It has a history of everything from race tracks to gun clubs, a car club and the airport. We don't intend to run these things very often in a year."

He said organisers took steps to reduce stage-level noise following complaints, and a midnight curfew was observed.

Thanks to www.nzherald.co.nz for this story.

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