Geelong festival plans to expand

A DAY On The Green organisers want more punters, more often at the festival’s Geelong home under plans lodged with Geelong council.

The City of Greater Geelong is considering an application from promoters Roundhouse Entertainment to expand the Mt Duneed Estate event’s capacity to 25,000 people and increase its yearly concert limit from six to 10.

Proponents say that not all events would attract the maximum crowd figure, and said any patrons beyond the current limit of 20,000 would need to arrive at the venue by bus to limit impacts on existing traffic management provisions.

Roundhouse said the Geelong A Day On The Green events had become “marquee greenfield concerts” in the region since starting in 2013, with acts such as Midnight Oil, Elton John, Robbie Williams, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Florence and the Machine, among those to perform at its 17 events to date.

The promoters said the expansion was needed to stay at the forefront of the music industry.

“The live music scene, as it operates now, has evolved significantly with outdoor concerts at wineries across the country establishing themselves as a staple of the touring music industry,” planning document stated.

“As such, they require a site to have the capacity to accommodate the ‘A List’ international acts with crowds in the range of 18,000 to 25,000.

This is critical to the ongoing success and relevance of Mt Duneed Estate as a key outdoor concert venue within the broader Australian entertainment industry and its ability to deliver significant economic and social benefits to the Greater Geelong local government area.

“The amendment does not seek any significant changes to the concert site that was approved as part of the original planning permit nor to any of the attendant conditions of consent that are framed around functional matters such as noise control, traffic control, food and drink service, bushfire and water management.”

The plans are open for feedback on COGG’s planning website until Tuesday (September 27).