A popular music festival has been criticized for going ahead, despite urging attendees to reconsider their plans due to the high risk of fire and an extreme heatwave.
The Pitch Music and Arts festival in Moyston, 15 kilometers west of Ararat in Victoria’s western district, encouraged revelers on Friday to leave the venue or delay their travel to the event, despite organizers refusing to cancel it.
More than 18,000 people were expected to attend Pitch on Saturday, one of the largest music festivals in the state.
Temperatures in Moyston are expected to reach 37C on Saturday and 39 degrees on Sunday.
Organizers warned attendees Friday night to “leave tonight or early in the morning” following safety warnings, even though many had already settled in for the five-day event.
Organizers opted to delay the festival’s start time until 6pm on Saturday following consultations with authorities.
The Pitch Music and Arts festival (crowd at previous event pictured) is one of Victoria’s largest music festivals.
The Pitch Music and Arts festival urged attendees to reconsider due to the high fire danger in the area, but still went ahead with the event.
READ MORE: Man feared dead in major fire
Fire and police crews remain at the scene (pictured) of a massive fire that gutted a bakery and an adjoining home.
‘Following the update provided yesterday, and following consultation this morning with the CFA, Victoria Police and other members of the Emergency Management teams, Pitch Music and Arts music programming will begin at 6pm today (Saturday ) and will continue as scheduled for the remainder. of the event,” organizers said in the latest update.
“At the time of writing there are no active fires in the region and we want to assure you that those on the scene have access to ample shade, misting fans, food and water.”
“We are diligently following guidance from relevant authorities to prioritize the safety of our community and have a full team of emergency services including medical, police and fire response services on site, who are on call throughout the event. .
The first wave of revelers had already arrived at the venue, which sits at the foot of the Grampians, before the dire updates were published.
Parents whose teenagers and young adults had traveled to the event are also concerned about the lack of mobile reception in the rural area.
Some parents have driven to the festival site to pick up their children.
Melbourne’s mother Nuala told the Herald Sun that his 22-year-old son’s decision to continue attending the event was “absolutely shocking.”
‘I just think it’s the most irresponsible thing. They are putting children at risk. “I feel like the communication from Pitch is terrible,” he said.
“Once a fire starts, imagine trying to get all those kids out.”
The CFA advised the revelers to leave when they arrived at the scene on Friday.
An update from event organizers detailed the extreme weather and fire dangers associated with this year’s festival.
Pitch’s social media pages have been inundated with refund requests from those who chose to follow the CFA’s advice.
Ticket prices range from $449 for two days to $499 for four days.
Organizers apologized for delays in processing ticket refunds as they work to meet demand.
“Regarding refund inquiries, we appreciate your patience as we work through the details,” organizers advised on the event website.
“Rest assured, ticket holders will be updated as more information becomes available.”
When the revelers arrived by bus on Friday night, the CFA immediately warned them to leave.
Disgruntled festival-goers criticized the last-minute warning and asked why the event wasn’t canceled earlier in the week.
A later announcement alerted those who decided to attend that Saturday’s events had been delayed, but not yet canceled.
Parents who sent their children to the Pitch Music and Arts Festival called the decision not to cancel the event “deplorable.”
Aaron Smith, another concerned father, wrote on X that the whole ordeal was “frustrating” because he has no way to check if his 19-year-old daughter is safe.
‘Pitch has issued a message conveying the CFA’s advice not to come and go, but they are still organizing the event. My son arrived yesterday and there is no mobile signal. I have no idea what they are saying to those already there. Such conflicting messages: After 6pm, don’t come yet if you haven’t left… Doesn’t inspire confidence,” Mr Smith wrote.
He went on to tell the age that it’s hard to consider the logic of Pitch’s contradictory advice.
“It’s really confusing because it’s inconsistent and it’s impossible to reconcile the advice not to come with not canceling the event,” he said.
Another mother said she had been calling her son “non-stop” until she was finally able to contact him.
‘I just got in touch with my son who has been there since yesterday. He says there are CFA trucks and people everywhere and the evacuation procedure has been explained to them. The established times have been delayed. “He feels pretty safe, obviously I’m worried,” she wrote.
Others similarly criticized the festival, calling it “deplorable” and “reckless.”
‘It is deplorable that this festival continues. It is unfair to locals and the fire services, who may have to divert resources due to a large gathering to protect people. It is also not fair for medical workers, security workers and all personnel who provide services to have to work in such extreme conditions,” one wrote.
‘It is completely reckless and negligent of the organizers of Pitch Music & Arts to allow the event to go ahead under these conditions. They must ensure that these children can leave safely. They have a duty to care for these children,” said another.
Some parents have been unable to contact young revelers at the vent (pictured) due to a lack of mobile reception in the area.
A complete fire ban has been announced in central Victoria and 60km east of where Pitch takes place, a large bushfire broke out two weeks ago.
Two teenagers who decided to attend the event he told ABC that many of the people they spoke to weren’t sure what was going on.
‘We don’t have the slightest idea if they allow us to go. ‘Do not come or come; the middle ground is really, really confusing. “That’s what stresses everyone out,” one of them said.
Another teenager who opted to leave after arriving added that most of the artists had dropped out, so it wasn’t worth attending anyway.
“Apparently all the big artists have been cancelled, so it’s really not worth staying there and suffering from heat stroke,” he told the publication.
He said the process had cost him $130 out of pocket due to return bus fare.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Pitch organizers for comment.