No campgrounds at Rhythm and Vines will be allowing BYO at this year's festival.
Chase and Status at Rhythm & Vines 2014. Photo: Rhythm & Vines / Alexander Hallag
Both the R&V Festival and Woodlands Camp, are proposing to instead have licensed bars close to the camping areas, a report about proposals for the 2016 Rhythm & Vines music and camping festival shows.
Gisborne City Council will discuss the report on Thursday.
Council regulatory services manager Sarwan Kumar said: “We’ve met with campground owners and the festival organisers who’ve given us an overview of how they intend to do this before we formally consider the applications for resource consent and special alcohol licenses, that we expect to receive later this month.”
Historically, the BW Camping Festival on Centennial Marine Parade was the primary camping accommodation provider for Rhythm & Vines patrons. But the report said this activity ended in 2014 when BYO alcohol drinking started compromising campsite safety.
The report also highlighted that organisers of the Rhythm & Vines 2016 festival and the owners of Woodlands camping accommodation had been informed about compliance expectations for this year’s festival, which had been poor in 2015.
Last year “some matters were resolved during the festival period. Many were not including use of un-consented camping areas, congestion in camp areas and lack of control to prevent BYO alcohol in prohibited areas. Lack of control of intoxicated people entering the licensed festival also breached the special alcohol licence conditions,” the report said
Sarwan Kumar said the council wanted every festival go-er to have a safe and happy time.
“So we expect the Woodlands Campgrounds and Rhythm and Vines festival to comply with any requirements placed on consents and licenses. This means creating a healthy environment for campers and festival goers, including managing alcohol consumption.”
