Just as Outback events were starting to reappear on the grey nomad calendar, a series of Covid outbreaks put a question mark again them again … but one of the biggest of them all is definitely going ahead.
The organisers of the Big Red Bash music festival says the event is ‘definitely going ahead’ next week, despite the ongoing coronavirus situation and various state border closures.
The 10,000-people event, which takes place in the Simpson Desert outside the Queensland town of Birdsville, has the full support of Queensland Health and will take place as planned from July 6- 8.
However, organisers are encouraging all patrons to check and respect the latest restrictions from their state and territory governments before travelling to the Bash.
Greg Donovan from the Big Red Bash told the ABC the event was in ‘full compliance with every single health order there is’.
“We’ve got an extensive and very rigorous COVID-safe plan,” he said. “We’ve got the full support of Queensland Health to continue on with the event.”
Mr Donovan said the concert area measured 63,000 square metres — or “nine football fields” — which equalled between six and seven square metres per person.
“Safety and health have always been our highest priority,” he said. “We would never do anything to risk people’s health or safety.”
The ABC reports that a rapid COVID testing service started operating in Birdsville this week and will be onsite for the three days of the festival next week.
Bob Partridge from Pathology Queensland said the aim would be to deliver results within an hour.
“We’re happy to test 24 hours a day if that’s required,” Mr Partridge told the ABC. “Anybody presenting that’s symptomatic will have a swab collected, and we’ll run the test straight away.”
Friends normally domiciled just south of Sydney had tickets went to Qld (with Permits) prior to mass lock down – were not permitted to travel to Bash as licence details said they were from Sydney Region, they had to return to NSW. They’re not happy.
My sister from Adelaide had tickets last year for BRB but the event was cancelled and credit given for this year. They were just about to take off and then SA closed to Qld and as they both work they couldn’t take the risk of 14 day isolation on their return so guess what they have lost $2,000. Doubt they will get any money back as the Bash is still going ahead.