Loud concert may be Waimairi’s last

Press, 4 December 1979, Page 6

Loud concert may be Waimairi’s last

Poor behaviour and noise by 6000 people at a rock concert at Jellie Park on Sunday may have meant an end to any more rock concerts in Waimairi County residential areas.

The County Chairman (Mr D. B. Rich) told the council’s works reserves and traffic committee last evening that the police had not made their presence felt even though punishable offences had been committed. Rock concerts should not be used as a cover for offences punishable under the Police Offences Act and other acts, he said. He was referring to comments by councillors that the police had chosen to keep a low profile to avoid confrontation. Fie said some people who attended the concert had been disgusted by some behaviour. Toilet facilities had been inadequate, but they had also not been used. “If a rock-concert application comes up before this council again, I do not like its chances,” Mr Rich said. “Rock concerts are not appropriate in a residential area.”

The concert was organised by the North Christchurch Jaycees to raise funds for community projects in northwest Christchurch. It was underwritten by Radio 3ZM.

The committee waived its rules to allow the president of the Jaycee branch (Mr D. D. Esplin) to make an explanation. He said security staff had been kept to a minimum because the organisers had not wanted to create a rebellious undercurrent.

“They were not prepared to step in and create a showdown that could have angered the two bikie gangs present,” Mr Esplin said. “Gang members were well controlled by their leaders.” The concert had been an attempt to counter youth boredom. “There is very little for them to do during the week, and nothing on Sunday,” he said.

Asked if the council could have imposed a maximum noise condition, the County Engineer (Mr A. J. W. Lamb) said noise was an essential element of a rock concert; it was not practical to impose a limit. A strong wind had probably carried the noise.

Mr Esplin said he had been in constant touch with the police, and they had said there was no problem. Six plain clothes and 16 uniformed policemen, 12 secur-

ity men, and 40 Jaycee members had been at the concert. Only 2000 people had been expected, but 4200 had paid, and more than a thusand had found their way in through insecure fences. “It concerns me that this type of concert and disturbance should be allowed to continue,’’ said Cr A. A. Adcock. “This should not be allowed in residential areas, particularly on a Sunday," said Cr H. M. Tait. Cr M. T Murray said the extent of community complaint indicated that rock concrets should be held outside residential areas, per-| haps at McLeans Island. Mr Esplin said he did not! know that the bands had ex-f ceeded their time allocationj Iby two hours. The committee decided tct ask the police their view and policy, and decided to refed the answer to its recreation," parks, and development subcommittee. Stall’ transport A move to introduce staff transport as a fuel saving measure lapsed. Of 82 members of staff who drove cars to work only 27 were willing to pay fares, said Mr Lamb. If the council provided a free staff service at its own cost this would save fuel, but would not reduce the council’s own consumption, jeopardising future allocations, Mr Lamb said. Most staff said they would support a free van service, but most opposed a charge, and almost all rejected a minibus service at 51.50 to $2 a day. A special Christchurch Transport Board service was unpopular, as was the use of a staff bus service run by other companies. The committee agreed to defer any action, and encourage staff to support car pooling. Traffic staff

The committee decided to ask the Minister of Transport I (Mr McLachlan) to increase i the number of district traffic I officers. The county’s chief traffic superintendent (Mr B. D. Thackwell) said officers were sometimes hard-pressed to meet their obligations. Waste claim The proposed Local Authorities Employment Promotion Committee was a ■WWW

“wasteful bureaucratic duplication of effort,” Cr Cossar said. The committee will be convened by the Christchurch City Council to help local and ad hoc authorities to create jobs and find suitable workers. The Canterbury Employment Advisory Committee and Labour Department were already doing this, he said.

Cr F, Chisholm said councils did not have the resources “to employ hordes of Temporary Employment Programme workers.” But Cr Clark said one local authority was employing only one T.E.P. worker. Cr I. G. Lyons said the unemployment rate had to be lowered. The committee decided to appoint a representative to the promotion committee for a trial period. Refuse bags The committee went into committee to discuss whether it should switch back to paper refuse bags. Mr Rich said the price difference between paper and plastic had fallen from $60,000 to $13,000 in the last three years. Cr Adcock said it was ethically wrong to dump "billions” of non-degradable plastic bags into a proposed coastal refuse landfill site. I