What don't you like about the Festival?
by Project Coordinator 1:45pm, 7 October 2009If you don’t like the Festival, we also want to know why. We know it’s big, it’s loud and it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. The noise? The crowds? The line up? The queue for the toilets? The people invading your suburb? Other things?
This discussion topic is closed. You can still review the discussion but it will no longer accept comments or votes.
Random_Kiwi
2:41pm, 12 October 2009
12
0 
Queue's for the toilets appaling! How about bringing in some of those running water toilet facilities on the back of a truck like they do at music festivals? A huge step up from port-a-loo's and miles above the NOTHING provided last year...if you're not inside a bar/beside the over bridge, it's a nightmare to go to a bathroom
silentmoose
7:13pm, 13 October 2009
5
6
Drunk people (often underage) at the music stages who shove people around, dance dangerously and don't keep their hands to themselves. I spent quite some time last festival trying to make drunken teenage boys leave me alone so I could enjoy the music... and know women who won't go near the stages because they don't feel safe. Maybe some extra security (particularly close to the stage) would help?
ILoveStKilda
9:46pm, 15 November 2009
1
0
How is it that people are drunk at a festival? There's basically two ways;
1. Licensed outlets (permanent and temporary) within the festival precinct do not effectively implement Responsibly Serving of Alcohol
2. People bring their own.
The first one is a little easier to tackle, but it requires a change of culture; Many venues file away staff RSA certificates but then expect staff to sell as much as possible. To actually effect change, a program of additional training for staff of both permanent and temporary outlets is required. This is possible but is a big change in thinking for a large number of people.
The second is trickier - I like someones idea of not allowing takeaway sales within the festival precinct. Vastly increasing security numbers isn't practical and would be massively costly, but the real problem is getting enough quality security to do an effective job. For example, a couple of years ago I saw a security guard approach someone drinking spirits straight from the bottle. They "resolved" this problem by asking the person to skull the rest.
Genius...
___________
Reducing the numbers of people getting unpleasantly drunk will not stop the festival being fun. On the contrary, it will help address many of the concerns people have raised on this forum. (Including reducing pressure on toilet facilities.) Mostly it will make the overall atmosphere (especially once darkness hits) more relaxed and cruisy, and less aggressive.
It's not impossible. The Falls Festival is a great example of a festival where moderation is actually implemented, and there isn't the aggro feeling that other events suffer from.
andrew9
7:29pm, 20 October 2009
6
2
long_term_st_kilda_resident
8:17pm, 22 October 2009
9
7
The residents are cut off for the day as thousands and thousands of people invade. We get parked in, abused if we ask someone to move their car which is blocking your driveway, bumper to bumper traffic in my street (most seemingly playing "Duff-Duff" music really loud), rubbish everywhere, inability to leave and return to the suburb due to traffic. I am not a johhny-come-lately - the St. Kilda Festival was going when I moved into the suburb 15 years ago and I used to love it. It has become far too big and unwieldy. This is the first time that residents have been given a chance to make a meaningful comment and I thank the council for that.
Hedrick76
2:48pm, 25 October 2009
7
3
Duff is the beer that Homer drinks in The Simpsons. Doof doof is music that young people sometimes like to listen to. This all sounds very Footloose.
I live in St Kilda too and i moved here because i like that it has a bit of life in it and always has. Isn't that why all of us move here? sounds to me like youve changed and now you want st kilda to as well.
If you dont like it just get over it for one day for the sake of all of us that love it. St kilda isn't only your place you know.
St Kilda Local Guy
4:58pm, 27 October 2009
10
2
I for one feel quite looked after by the council givejn the size of this event. My area is monitored so it seems by parking officerws most of the day (I remember chatting to them at least twice last year). I get a pass in the mail to put on my car to gain access to my area. Plus I even got a booklet that explain all the closures and activities of the festival and some other community info that I found quite informative. Yes there are thousands and thousands of people, but they are not invading, simply sharing our space for one day. The trafic is quite tricky, thats true, but I would think this is the same for any major event and again, its only for one day. How do these things really affect you? Can you not cope for one day? Are these really legitimate gripes or do you simply not like the event for no real reason?
residentfor24years
11:11am, 9 November 2009
1
1
Many facilities (eg the gym at the St Kilda Sea Baths) are not available that day so it's not just a matter of people 'sharing our space' - residents are affected. Very difficult to get around to do normal things like supermarket shopping. You're lucky your area is monitored by parking officers all day - it's a real pain having the driveway blocked (and being abused and threatened by drivers when you ask them to move - which they don't). And the cleaners may be in action the next day to clean up the beach (paid for by Foxtel or the Council?), but not the extra take away food litter, bottles, glass, vomit, urine etc etc left in my street after the festival.
St Kilda Cutie
6:35pm, 27 October 2009
2
2
willy resident
11:05am, 28 October 2009
6
2
Rather than pay out on this person, how about we all listen as there are obviously many people who hold similar views for this review to have ever been commissioned.
Fair complaints I say, so how about the council divert some extra funding into more parking officers, more rubbish cleaners, perhaps a officer on the day that the residents can call directly for fast action, or whatever needed in reason to address these concerns and let the festival go on.
ali_harry
7:35pm, 29 October 2009
5
2
I don't live in the area, but I have friends who do, and they got some booklet for the residents with info and I remember it had something in there about a hotline that people could call during the festival for "fast action" so i think the festival people are already onto that!
Jemima_A_83
10:43pm, 29 October 2009
5
2
Yeah you're right ali, I have seen a similar thing at my friend's house too. They get a whole pack of stuff.
I think St Kilda is cleaner than it ever is the day after the festival! So weird the next day after something so massive, it's like nothing every happened. It's like it has had it's own little yearly detox :)
FCPP
3:20pm, 28 October 2009
1
3
The Grand Prix manages to protect residents from the thousands of cars that converge on the race weekend. Why cant the Council do the same for residents during the festival. Many people are stuck with street parking for their homes and SKF make it impossible for them to live normally. Close all roads into SK and only allow residents stickered vehicles in. FREE TRAMS an absolute must!!!! I'm happy to share my suburb for a weekend even if the SKF isn't my personal taste
St Kilda Local Guy
5:01pm, 27 October 2009
11
0
More toilets would be good. Also much better signage throughout the event to find things would be great also. Maybe some directions sign points or something?
Maybe even some more stages in some places would be great. A classics stage would be good and also another local music stage of some sort. It would also be great if there was a local office or shopfront for the festival so I could drop in and get information on the event; that could be a real advantage for locals particularly.
St Kilda Cutie
6:42pm, 27 October 2009
4
4
I dont like that it finishes at 10pm, it would be great if it went to midnight. free trams would be cool too.
David@StKildaRoad
10:56am, 29 October 2009
5
6
The event is too big and as a St Kilda resident we have to put up with far too many interruptions to our lives, with marathons, cycle races, Grandprixs and the festival itself. Too many drunks, my friends can't visit me because the roads are clogged. Smaller localised festival events for lcoals would be great instead.
Jemima_A_83
12:16pm, 29 October 2009
3
1
David@StKildaRoad
4:10pm, 29 October 2009
1
2
Depends where your friends live Jemima! Transport is not very good in sopme parts of Melbourne.
hannah
9:12pm, 29 October 2009
5
0
She does have a point in that there are 10 trams that run upon st kilda rd.
So they could drive/ride and then catch public transport, small sacrifice no?
Jemima_A_83
10:35pm, 29 October 2009
4
1
I have friends who manage to commute to Melbourne from regional Victoria completely by public transport so to say that people can't get around Melbourne on public transport and with the aid of cars (which your friends obviously have access to) is absolute rubbish.
ranchsam
4:45pm, 29 October 2009
5
1
You are living in the event capital of Australia, we as Melbournians pride ourselves on the events we host and run most of which are world class attracting people from all over the world and the country. We all love Melbourne and take great pride in telling everyone who comes here what a diverse and interesting city we are, the reason we can do this is because we have events like the ones you have mentioned above. These events appeal to a wide and varied audience and as I have said in another post, if we all liked the same things, what a boring place the world be. Also, you live in St Kilda, it’s a fantastic place for all of the above mentioned events to take place and just because you live here doesn’t mean you own the place, I see St Kilda as a place for the people, not just for the residence. Do you think all of the restaurants, bars and cafes would survive if only the residence were allowed in?
hannah
9:27pm, 29 October 2009
5
1
Maybe we do have to put up with a lot, but we live in a beautiful suburb with a great location, so we can't complain about sporting events that encourage fitness, and that bring people from all over the state. And to be honest, what harm does a morning of closed roads, a couple of weekends a year do?
More disturbing is the Grand Prix, with effects far beyond just local St Kilda, and Albert Park, a far greater cost, smaller audience of audience, and a restricted audience. But this is regarding the St Kilda Festival alone, so don't drag the Grand Prix into it.
The St Kilda Festival does have a lead up involving smaller localised events. Do you find it to much to ask to share the finale with a larger audience, the larger audience creating an amazing atmosphere, and feeling of community?
Nothing like sharing a beautiful sunset on St Kilda beach with lots of people.
Adrian Jackson of Middle Park
2:38pm, 29 October 2009
2
4
As a Middle Park resident my suburb is used as a car park as far north as Armstrong St however I do not mind that as our roads are public roads not private roads. I would get rid of the parking permits (all year round) in West St Kilda so cars can park closer to the action. Are West St Kilda residents selfish or a protected species I wonder? After all its their festival not Middle Parks. I would get rid of the parking access restriction for the F1 Grand Prix too as St Kilda Festival has a greater crowd than on Grand Prix Sunday. The festival music speakers should face out to sea and not face the houses nearby to reduce the noise for residents not involved in the festival.
andrew9
8:05pm, 29 October 2009
3
2
why do you comment then since its not middle parks festival , people are mad to drive when public transport get's you in the thick of it
Adrian Jackson of Middle Park
3:32pm, 2 November 2009
0
3
Because I help pay for it through my council rates ($2940.80 for FY 2009/10). By the way "FY" means financial year - 01 July to 30 June. People have a right to travel to the festival how they like tram, bus, car, bike or on foot.
Incidentally in the 2006 ABS Census only 82 people in Middle Park were unemployed. That's partly why Port Phillip is so prosperous but they is no excuse for not working in Port Phillip as there are paid skilled and unskilled jobs everywhere or better still be your own boss and start your own business St Kilda dole people.
andrew9
8:29pm, 5 November 2009
0
1
Removed by moderator - the comment contained bad language
Jemima_A_83
11:27pm, 5 November 2009
2
1
Glad you're perfect, Adrian Jackson of Middle Park. This is laughable.
Adrian Jackson of Middle Park
10:18am, 8 November 2009
0
4
I read Andrew9 comment above (0829 hrs, 05 Nov 09) before you removed it moderator but I was not fazed; really. It was just language one would expect from some in St Kilda. You would not hear it in Middle Park. I am happy to have Andrew9 comment restored as it only strengthens my arguments. I think I am the only contributor who can be identified which makes this survey validity a bit dubious
LaLola
1:52pm, 31 October 2009
6
3
There are good things about the Festival and there are also some very bad things about the Festival. The point of the review is to hear all aspects and work to expand the good and diminish the bad. So rather than shout down the critics and/or tell them to get out of St Kilda, we could listen to residents’ concerns and offer advice on how to overcome some of the excesses – such as urinating in people’s gardens, leaving rubbish in parks and streets, parking cars across people’s driveways, screaming outside people’s windows, and generally unruly or even aggressive behaviour that comes from drunkenness and/or drug highs and lows.
The ratepayers of St Kilda fund this Festival. They spend their money to host an event so that people from all over Melbourne, interstate and overseas can enjoy the physical beauty of St Kilda and its quirky charms, and immerse themselves in its culture and music. That’s a pretty generous invitation. Why do so many Festival fans take this to mean some implied permission to binge – whether with alcohol or drugs or both – and to go wild in the streets of St Kilda or in their apartments? Why do people, perhaps you or your friends, abuse the residents’ hospitality by behaving like absolute morons? Residents aren’t complaining about people dancing at the stages, singing along with bands, laughing or simply taking pleasure in the beauty of the bay. The residents are complaining about loud, unruly, stupid behaviours away from the stages, in the streets, in the bars and pubs, at private parties, and under their windows.
stkildastateofmind
11:12pm, 1 November 2009
3
0
maybe they do it because it's fun and they are a bit drunk...i've lived in st kilda all my life and nobody has behaved like that under my window! i was probably out somewhere having fun though. people behave stupidly near my windows most weekends (and some weeknights too) so i probably wouldn't really notice! urine in my garden every day of the year would probably smell bad but once (or realistically several times) a year is fine. i don't want to tell these new and some quite old residents to move out...but for one weekend a year, perhaps they could go camping or something? then they could take their vehicle with them and create more room for urination.
residentfor24years
11:02am, 9 November 2009
1
2
You must live in an odd part of St Kilda! 24 years I've lived here and urine, faeces, syringes, litter, noise, assaults - all normal outside my front window! Don't need things to be made any worse by the festival, which is far, far too big and badly managed. The so called alcohol restrictions are a complete joke - they don't count if they're not policed. I don't see why I should leave my own suburb to have an enjoyable weekend at the time of the festival, so don't say I need to sacrifice my weekend for the 'greater good' if I don't like the festival. Can't people see it for what it is - a big ad for Foxtel, nothing more?
Jemima_A_83
12:42pm, 10 November 2009
2
1
If you think things are so bad in St Kilda normally, why do you live there?
LaLola
3:17pm, 14 November 2009
1
2
Jemima, why is it that almost every comment from you in this forum is about telling people to get out of St Kilda if they don't like your view of the world. That is a very arrogant and conceited sense of entitlement you bring to this forum. Before your 'right to party anytime, anywhere ' tribe arrived, St Kilda was a place that welcomed a range of views, ages and backgrounds - and respected the differences. It didn't belong to anyone; but to everyone. Try saying hello to the neighbours, or people, who are different to you, find out their concerns, respect their views, and you might be pleasantly surprised. And, if after all of that, you find the long term residents too awful, perhaps you could consider relocating? After all, they were here before you came and probably created the very atmosphere of creativity, tolerance and diversity, that attracted you to St Kilda in the first place. An atmosphere you and your friends are trashing.
Jemima_A_83
7:59pm, 15 November 2009
0
0
Removed by moderator - the comment failed to respect other users
Jemima_A_83
8:10pm, 15 November 2009
1
0
And also just to point out, the only residents I question residing in St Kilda - and rightly so - are the ones that complain about a huge range of topics. I am just trying to understand why they live in a place that clearly doesn't suit their lifestyle. I don't have a problem with them personally, I just don't understand that and why they have to ruin the enjoyment of St Kilda and the festival for everyone else who behaves responsibly.
To make a gross misjudgement such as you just have about myself and those in my age bracket is pretty revolting. The way you have just expressed yourself, it would be easy for me to think you were an old spinster in her late 50s who has never married and has no children, too much time on her hands and very bitter and twisted. But I absolutely don't. You're passionate and frustrated and so am I and that is all there is to it. Just at least see that and quit the generalisations.
stkildastateofmind
3:07am, 12 November 2009
2
1
Faeces?! I don't think the festival is going to make that situation any worse! You poor thing, you got a bad deal.. I live about a minute from acland st, so not particularly odd but it's fun when it is! No faeces though, dear oh dear. Although things were a lot rougher before you moved in, I can tell you that! Just go away for the festival weekend and let them add to your 24 year pile!! It's not really a sacrifice, sounds like we haven't really had to experience sacrifice yet.
St Kilda has never been cleaner the day after the festival! CoPP do a fantastic job and managing the entire festival. Thanks CoPP, we all love it here... human waste and all!
ali_harry
9:59am, 6 November 2009
4
1
I don’t know if this is a case of ‘shouting down the critics’ so much as defending the st Kilda festival and its attendees. It seems that a lot of people who have negative views of the festival on this forum are casting very disparaging generalisations about the people who attend the festival. If residents are going to say that all festival goers are ‘bogans’ and ‘ferals’, or assume that everyone who attends is either drunk, disorderly or ‘morons’, then I think the festival supporters have every right to get angry and have their say.
Out of the hundreds of thousands of people who attend st Kilda festival each year it’s only a small minority that would actually behave in the way you’ve described. And those people would probably behave that way whether the festival was happening or not. At least during the festival there is security and cleaning people who can help control the crowds and clean up once the festival has finished.
LaLola
7:06pm, 14 November 2009
0
0
I agree many people behave well. But many also don't, especially as the day wears on. They are 'morons' and 'bogans' because they give the Festival a bad name and are its biggest threat. Council can't keep increasing its security costs indefinitely. So get angry with the people who exhibit bad behaviour, not with those who complain about it.
p0z
11:13am, 2 November 2009
4
1
the only complaint is TOILETS>>>>>
every year i find myself running around trying not to wet my pants looking for somewhere to go
and bars and clubs wont just let u in to use the toilet u have to pay......same as luna park they have security blocking the toilets and u need a pass just for that
more toilets for sure!!!!!
Adrian Jackson of Middle Park
4:29pm, 14 November 2009
0
0
p0z, Why don't you buy a drink or some food at the pubs and cafes then you can use their business toilets. Help stimulate the economy by spending money as Comrade Rudd wants us to do. If you are drinking to much this may explain the problem you have with your pants wetting
Betty
10:01am, 4 November 2009
4
3
Over recent years this event seems to be using the wonderful "stage" that is St Kilda to present a program that only interests/involves a small amount of the residents. I know that festivals can not please everyone but most municipal city festivals run wide programs that include the residents. The St Kilda Festival used to do this but I believe that it is currently failing in this area.
phil acland
4:58pm, 5 November 2009
3
4
it's big and it's loud and it's not much about St.Kilda except for the drunks in the streets, rubbish in the streets, unholy cacophony.... indeed, the sort of thing you can get anywhere. Why is this particular festival supposed to be a special expression of St.Kilderness? The original festivals were really good and far more diverse than the current booze and noise events of now.
Tony
10:32pm, 5 November 2009
2
0
I like it all so please don't take this as a comment against the festival. I just wanted to say that I miss the stage that was at the end of Acland St for so long.
Jemima_A_83
11:46pm, 5 November 2009
1
3
I actually think the festival needs more of those temporary bars on the street. Not to encourage more drinking, but to be able to have control over the drinking people are already doing. I mean a couple of drinks enjoyed on a Sunday afternoon should not be frowned upon. I myself am totally guilty of carrying around a few sneaky picnic style takeaways (please note I am definitely not a drunk idiot - just to clarify) because all the local bars on Fitzroy/Acland are totally full. I don't want to have to wait for hours in a line to get in somewhere on Fitzroy/Acland just to have a quiet drink during the afternoon resulting in missing the bands that are on stage. I feel they cater to a different crowd. More for people who are going to stick around in those venues for a longer period of time. Just quietly I think they probably struggle to not overcrowd their own venues and get in trouble with the police or whoever for that as it is. I think more bars would help capacitate the extra demand rather than a free for all on the street which with that many people would be a really tough job to actually control. The stage next to the Vineyard/Luna works really well where there's lots of security, a stage, a bar, lots of food available.
CraMar
3:51pm, 8 November 2009
2
1
I don't like the uncontrolled drinking of alcoholic beverages. I really think it lowers the image and increases the risk of harm to people and St Kilda's reputation.
Nikki
6:51pm, 13 November 2009
2
0
I agree with this, particularly I would like to see the Espy bottleshop not trading this year as providing takeaway alcohol is exacerbating the problems that residents have with drunken behaviour, urination in the street and so on.
I also agree with the plea for more public toilets, and would also recommend that the single toilet placed in Pollington St be relocated, because as enjoyable as it is to watch it being tipped over for the umpteenth time, it doesn't add anything to the enjoyment of the festival, nor I am sure is it pleasant for the next person who attempts to use it.
Davidson
2:29pm, 14 November 2009
2
0
I'm a resident of St Kilda. I object to having my rates pay for the clean up. It's one thing having people come to your suburb to celebrate. But it's another thing to have to spend my rates to fix up the place after they trash it. I'd much prefer my rates to be spent on childcare centres, parks and environment and other things I value - rather than rubbish removal.
Why don't we sell tickets to this thing - so we can recoup the money we're otherwise wasting?
estelle
6:33pm, 14 November 2009
1
1
why do we need additional events such as mountain-boarding, fat tyre fliers, V8 supercar simulators, fair ground, rides, Foxtel Village? What do they have to do with showcasing and celebrating emerging music and local arts and culture?
i regard the disrespectful behaviour of some visitors to the community. eg urinating in public and residential places/ gardens ,drinking in the streets and residential areas .
Jemima_A_83
8:28pm, 15 November 2009
0
0
Why not? It's a broad reaching festival that does cater to many different people and you have just highlighted how. Just because you like those things, doesn't mean others share your view.
Foxtel is the major sponsor so they probably want some bang for their buck which is why they are there. Pretty obvious that one really. It isn't just rates that fund the festival.
