Drive-in driven out
THE future of an affordable event for Bundaberg families is in doubt after the owners of the Innes Park Country Club were informed by Bundaberg Regional Council that the drive-in nights and other events could no longer continue without appropriate permits.
Innes Park Country Club owner Clint Jensen said the fee to lodge the application to get council permission was too high and as a result the monthly movie nights would no longer be held at the golf course.
"It's $6000-$15,000 just to lodge the application," he said.
"The drive-in doesn't make enough money to justify paying that amount.
"You have to pay the fees just to lodge the application and there is no guarantee it will get approved."
Mr Jensen said he would now consider his options as he was yet to make a decision on the future of Beerfestabull, which attracted thousands of visitors to the country club earlier this year.
"It's disappointing," he said.
The council's Planning and Development spokesman Ross Sommerfeld said the council had acted on legal advice and had requested the Innes Park Country Club apply for a material change of use for the land if the club wished to host events outside the realms of a golf course.
"We informed the owners before this year's bull riding event that they would have to put in an application for any future events," he said.
"We allowed them to go ahead this year without proper permission because by the time council was aware, the event had already been organised."
Cr Sommerfeld said if the club decided to apply for the correct permits, the process would give members of the public the opportunity to comment on the application.
"The golf course is right beside residential homes and concerns have been raised," he said.
"These rules are put in place to protect both parties.
"Requirements such as car parking and making sure noise levels are not exceeded will be considered by council staff and a recommendation will be made."
Outdoor Big Screens owner Steven Greenwood, who ran the drive-in nights in partnership with the Innes Park Country Club, said while he understood the council were only doing their job, he was extremely disappointed and at this stage a suitable replacement venue had not been found.
"We need land with level car parking, toilets, power and a raised area where the big screen can sit," he said.
