Rave in cave gets approval

A "cave rave" expected to attract up to 1000 revellers to Long Beach will go ahead, despite the objections of some residents.

The Dunedin City Council has granted non-notified resource consent for the event, which will be held in a fenced, licensed and security-controlled area centred on a large sea cave at the beach.

Organisers will have to comply with 45 conditions and "advice notes" designed to protect the area's sensitive dunes, plants, wildlife and residents from disruption, while keeping dancers safe from any possibility of rockfalls inside the cave.

The Cave Sessions 2010 party is scheduled to begin at 3pm next Friday, featuring New Zealand and Dunedin dub/roots acts. Patrons are expected to clear the site by 2am.

Alcohol is to be sold during the event, and sound and lighting equipment, generators and other facilities installed from two days before the event.

Rave organiser David Booth, of Emberley New Zealand, said when contacted he was "relieved" the council had decided to grant consent, and confident the conditions - many of which he suggested - would work.

"Most of those conditions were ones we proposed, in terms of security and [site] layout and the like.

"We are very confident we can eliminate or reduce all the risks to the environment and the community," he said.

Long Beach Amenities Society spokesman Nic MacArthur said there was "bitter disappointment" within the Long Beach community at the council's decision.

"The decision was perplexing and disappointing for the local community after a packed meeting in the Long Beach Hall ... showed that a large majority did not want the event.

"Previous similar events had often trashed the cave, drunken patrons had abused local residents, and traffic noise and volume were unacceptable."

Mr MacArthur acknowledged organisers had "taken good notice" of community concerns, but remained sceptical the event's adverse effects could be controlled.

He said residents were "praying for rain" in the knowledge severe weather could see the event transferred to Dunedin nightspot Sammy's.

Mr Booth confirmed Sammy's would be used if severe weather made the beach location unsafe.

An 18-page decision by council planner Darryl Sycamore outlined the reasons for granting non-notified consent, and measures designed to protect the area.