Residents fail to stop cave concert

The future of a planned music event at Long Beach depends on a Dunedin City Council resource consent decision, after a meeting on Wednesday evening heard residents' opposition, but did not convince the organiser to cancel the event.

Nic MacArthur, of the Long Beach Amenities Society, said about 50 residents, the event organisers, council representatives and others attended the meeting at the Long Beach hall.

"Strong emotions were evident but it was an orderly meeting," he said.

Organiser David Booth sent a letter to Long Beach residents recently, explaining the 1000-ticket event would be held on March 19 at the Long Beach cave.

Mr Booth has applied for resource consent, and a decision is imminent.

Residents have raised concerns about having a sound stage, lighting and generators at the cave, and that the event would cram 1000 people into a sensitive dune environment, which is a nesting ground for little blue penguins and other sea birds.

Mr MacArthur said although the proposal was better planned than any previous event, the meeting was "extremely sceptical" that 1000 patrons fenced in and drinking alcohol for eight hours would be controllable in the way that Mr Booth expected.

A vote at the meeting resulted in a majority calling for the event to be cancelled. Mr MacArthur said about four people were in favour of the event, and three abstained from voting.

He said Mr Booth indicated he would continue.

Mr Booth could not be contacted last night.