It probably isn't worth pointing this out but I thought that I would make the observation anyhow. Liam Houlihan, the journalist who wrote this article, is also the journalist who wrote the article about the Bass Station carpark earlier in the year. I really hope that he doesnt intend to travel to Earthcore and write another one of his great undercover pieces.
Ravers rocked to core
Liam Houlihan, youth reporter
25aug05
AUSTRALIA'S biggest and longest-running outdoor dance event is in doubt.
The Earthcore festival, near Shepparton, has been refused a permit because the local hospital claims it can't cater for the festival and a local car race on the same weekend.
International acts have been booked and hundreds of festival tickets already sold.
Earthcore bosses have said that, if necessary, they will hold it elsewhere in country Victoria, at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars.
Promoter Pip Darvall said the hospital had rejected solutions he had offered. "Basically, the hospital has chosen not to get involved and has just objected. A hell of a lot more could be done in terms of communication," he said.
The rejection comes after a raver drowned in the Goulburn River at last year's event.
But Shepparton Mayor Anne McCamish said distaste for the dance event was not behind the objection, despite a reported 11 admissions last year for ravers who overdosed.
"We would love to have both events, but we are bound by what the hospital tells us it can handle," she said.
For the past two years Earthcore has drawn up to 6000 ravers to dance outdoors in Undera, near Shepparton.
During that time they have shared the last weekend in November with a rival for local medical services, the Spring Car Nationals, which have been in Shepparton for 13 years.
But this year Goulburn Valley Health said they could not handle both events because hospital renovations meant fewer beds and trolleys.
Mr Darvall said he would appeal against the council's decision at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal