AusLeisure

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has reclassified the Harvest Rock music festival as a major event in order for it to run after the Adelaide City Council refused to close a road necessary for it to go ahead.

The festival was set to be cancelled after Adelaide City Council last night voted against closing Bartels Road during the Secret Sounds organised event from 18^th to 21^st November.

However, Premier Malinauskas stepped in to ensure the festival would proceed, saying he would do everything he could to “generate more economic activity in the city”.

Premier Malinauskas advised “I’m not going to turn my back on small businesses in the CBD, particularly in hospitality who made massive sacrifices during the pandemic.

“This decision is not taken lightly, but it is necessary to ensure we are doing everything we can to support our city’s recovery as we emerge from the pandemic.”

South Australian Treasurer Stephen Mullighan told ABC Radio Adelaide the government was “trying to get businesses back on their feet”, adding “it just beggars belief that (the Council) would see a state government supported event like Illuminate and give them a 12-week road closure for Rundle Rd and the next state government supported events like Harvest Rock Festival seeking a two day business day or four day total road closure and they say no to that.

“I mean what sort of message does it send the major event organisers from around the country or around the world that want to bring events activities to Adelaide when there’s absolutely no consistency?”

Secret Sounds co-Chief Executive Jessica Ducrou said they had already invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in organising the festival and were on the hook for $5 million if the festival could not go ahead, telling Adelaide’s The Advertiser “we are so grateful that the Premier has stepped in and common sense has prevailed

The festival is being organised by Secret Sounds Group, which is behind Splendour in the Grass and the Falls festivals, with some of the funding to come from state government.

It is expected to attract between 20,000 to 25,000 patrons a day, with stages set up in Adelaide’s Rymill Park and King Rodney Park, connected by Bartels Road which would need to be closed for the duration.

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