It was recently announced that the highly anticipated Lost Paradise festival has been cancelled due to safety concerns. The festival was officially cancelled after it was deemed that nearby bushfires would pose a threat to the health and safety of festival-goers.
The decision was made by Lost Paradise after “extensive consultation” with Rural Fire Services and relevant emergency personnel.
Lost Paradise released a lengthy statement explaining the decision: “Our beautiful home in Sydney’s Central Coast is facing intense and unpredictable fire conditions that are sadly expected to deteriorate in the coming days. We simply cannot put anyone’s life at risk.”
The four-day festival runs over the New Year period in Glenworth Valley. The usual picturesque grounds have been surrounded by unyielding fires over the past few weeks, the unpredictability of the fires making the site unsuitable for the 11,000 plus festival-goers who were expected this year. Nearby, the Three Mile bushfire and The Gospers Mountain fire have both grown considerably and are no longer able to be contained by Rural Fire Services. The fact that both fires surround the grounds and are expected to continue was highly influential in the decision to cancel the event.
Patrons have been assured that they will receive a refund for their ticket payment, some of which were disappointed that the festival could not be relocated to another site. With a fierce lineup featuring artists such as Rufus Du Sol and Matt Corby, it’s easy to understand such disappointment. Yet, the festival has reinstated that there were no other options; “We have been working around the clock to explore all possible options to relocate the festival, but it is just not feasible within the timeframe.”
Whilst it is a shame that the yearly bash won’t be going ahead this summer, it does not distract from the devastation caused by the destruction. With more than 2.7 million hectares of land already impacted by the fires, the ramifications of climate change are as potent as the thick smoke that has wafted over Sydney throughout the last month.
Though Lost Paradise will be cancelled this year, it seems that the annual New Years Eve fireworks will still go ahead. Described as “money going up in smoke,” there has been support from over 180, 000 people petitioning on Change.org to cancel the fireworks and redirect the funds to those impacted by the droughts and fires. It seems a very obvious alternative yet there has been little response from the government and Lord Mayor Clover Moore. Redirecting of the funds would be vital for the farmers, fire services, and animal welfare agencies who have risked their lives in the face of catastrophic conditions.
Lost Paradise ensures the festival will return for 2020 “bigger and better” than ever. Check out their full statement below.
