December 22, 2024

2024 Top 10 Stories: Proposed festival meets concerned residents

BY SOUTHGREY.CA STAFF — On July 17, organizers of the Lit Galaxy Festival attended a Grey Highlands Council meeting and presented their proposal to bring the Canada Day event to a 150 acre property near Duncan in 2025. The iradios Productions group promised a safe and respectful weekend of music, art, nature and positivity, with minimal impact on the environment. The two-day celebration was expected to attract up to 25,000 attendees.

The complete presentation is available on the Grey Highlands municipal website.

Shortly after the presentation to Council, residents from both Grey Highlands and Blue Mountains mobilized to express serious concerns about the proposal. The backlash made our list of Top 10 Stories at number 10.

Key concerns included:

• Inappropriate Use of Rural Land: The proposed location is on a gravel road, far removed from the infrastructure needed to support such a large event.
• Public Safety Risks: The event poses serious risks, including potential fire hazards and a strain on the emergency medical system.
• Environmental Impact: Concerns have been raised about the negative impacts on surrounding properties, agriculture, and the natural and forested environment.
• Traffic and Waste Management: The influx of thousands of attendees would create significant traffic congestion and challenges in waste management.
• Nuisance to the Community: The noise, dust, and light pollution from the event would disrupt the peaceful rural setting.

On September 4, residents made their concerns known to Council.

Quietly, organizers withdrew their request to hold the event in Grey Highlands.

Read the original story:

Residents unite to oppose massive music festival proposed in Grey Highlands

 

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