MEDIA RELEASEWednesday August 12, 2015

SAFETY MUST BE PARAMOUNT WHEN PLANNING DANCE PARTIES

‘Warehouse’ or other dance parties being advertised at secret locations have the potential to put people’s safety at risk, City of Greater Bendigo Municipal Building Surveyor, Hans Tracksdorf, warns.

Mr Tracksdorf said such parties do not have the approvals required under government building regulations.

He made the comment following media reports of a ‘Warehouse Party’ being planned in Bendigo.

“These government regulations ensure that events such as dance parties are held at venues that are safe and able to handle large numbers of people,” Mr Tracksdorf said.

“Unless a building has an occupancy permit enabling it to be used as a public building and is designed to cater for a designated capacity, then event organisers or the building’s owners must obtain a special Place of Public Entertainment permit issued by the City of Greater Bendigo.

“Firefighting equipment, proper evacuation procedures, adequate toilet facilities are amongst some of the key items that must be considered when issuing such a permit.

“These special permits cannot be issued ‘on-the-spot’. Plenty of notice must be given to enable a proper and thorough inspection to occur.

“The City and the State Government have identified that public safety is always paramount and that is why this special event legislation was enacted many years ago.”

Maximum fines are approximately $36,000 for a person and $225,000 for a company.

Media Contact: Tom Laurie on 0408 797 743