At least four people were treated for suspected drug overdoses at a rave in Fyshwick on the weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
An ACT Emergency Services Agency spokeswoman confirmed paramedics attended the Tech Yes event on Dairy Road four times early Sunday for suspected drug overdose cases.
The call-outs were in addition to numerous noise complaints made to ACT Policing and NSW Police. Residents as far as Googong were reportedly woken by the party.
"Noise was reduced to an acceptable level. No arrests were made," an ACT Policing spokeswoman said.
It's understood the Environment Protection Authority attended the event.
Tech Yes, organised by Escape Ferocity, was billed as the after party of ACT government-approved festival Art, Not Apart.
The 18-plus event was held outside the BlocHaus bouldering centre and in a nearby warehouse, which sits about one kilometre from the nearest homes. About 1300 people attended the event.
An ACT government spokeswoman said no permit or approval was given to the organisers for the rave.
"No permits or approvals were required for this event as it was held on private property, however Access Canberra reminded organisers of their requirements and responsibilities, including around noise standards," she said.
"The government will speak further with the event organisers to ensure future events maintain appropriate noise levels for nearby residents."
She also confirmed the dance party was not government funded.
According to the event's Facebook page, it was held at a "secret location" that only ticket holders were privy to. The event was scheduled for 9pm on Saturday to 7am Sunday morning. The warehouse party was a BYO event.
"Wearing their darker guise of Escape Ferocity, the Art, Not Apart festival team brings another warehouse party to tell your grandkids about," the Facebook event page said.
It is understood a similar event was held in the area within recent months.
Art, Not Apart festival producer and Escape Ferocity manager Dave Caffery apologised.
"We regret that last night's event was audible in residential areas and sincerely apologise to anyone adversely effected," Mr Caffery said.
"It seems that everyone, including us, are shocked the sound carried through Fyshwick, across the border, through Queanbeyan's industrial area and into suburbia.
"We would not have conducted this event if this was a known possibility."
He said a similar event was hosted at the same time last year, but a few streets over on Townsville Street and it used the same sound systems. He said they received no sound complaints.
"To respect residents, we will not host any more events until an appropriate venue can be found," he said.
"People should be able to sleep while others have fun, we're sorry if you couldn't last night."
Queanbeyan police station inspector Anthony Hill said a number of residents as far as Googong could hear the noise and thought it was within the local area. Googong is more than 12 kilometres from the site of the rave.
Inspector Hill said the complaints were made until past 5am.
According to Facebook posts residents in Narrabundah also reported hearing "doof, doof music all night".
Narrabundah resident Sue Moran said she was awoken at around 4am by the music.
"I opened my door and couldn't figure out where it was coming from but it was awfully loud," Ms Moran said.
"I suppose they think it's an industrial estate so it doesn't matter.
"They were very foolish weren't they, I mean if they'd just kept it down a bit nobody would have been any the wiser."
ACT Policing does not appear to have specific guidelines on responding to noisy events.
"Each complaint of this nature and the action taken in response is assessed depending on the permissions and regulations relevant to the venue/event and the level of noise and any other offences committed," the spokeswoman said.
Residents near Tharwa last month called on the ACT government to intervene in a series of music festivals that police had warned could lead to death or injury if left unchecked.
The ACT government then also told Fairfax Media that private events on private property did not require a permit, despite concerns raised about the risks posed by drugs, alcohol and fire.
With Emily Baker
