Maitreya is going ahead at a secret location
But authorities are still doing all they can to kill the party
Australia's Maitreya festival is going ahead at a new location after it was denied the permit needed to return to the planned Lake Wooroonook site this weekend.
Believed to be private land, the secret site is in the same area and event organisers have told festival-goers to head to Lake Wooroonook and follow directions. On Friday, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) ordered Maitreya to share on social media that it would not be going ahead at the original site because of the lack of authorisation. But in the same post organisers said they had secured a new venue "just down the road."
No further details about the new site have been revealed and, mysteriously, the festival has changed its name to 'Maitreyah'. Victoria Police issued a statement saying they were monitoring the situation and "strongly discouraged event organisers from proceeding without the appropriate authorisation". The Country Fire Authority (CFA) has told people to stay away from the festival and Ambulance Victoria have warned they won't be on site.
Meanwhile, ABC reports the Buloke Shire council, which denied the permit, could ask police to shut the whole thing down.
But the festival is "100% GO GO GO" according to Maitreya(h).
Organisers say they have arranged alternative emergency medical care for the 10,000 ticket-holders and "will have doctors and experienced staff onsite 24/7 to care for any issues that may arise". The latest Facebook post says the stages are built and the shades hung, with a brief outline of the services and facilities on site, including toilets, showers, food and market stalls.
It's going to be an interesting weekend in the bush whatever happens. It certainly could be a legendary party.
Maitreya(h) takes place near Charlton, Victoria from March 11 to 14. Âme, Robert Babicz, Sébastien Léger and more have been named for the 10th anniversary.
Read about the fight to save Maitreya here.
Scott Carbines is Mixmag's Australian Online News Editor, follow him on Twitter.
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