LOCALS WANT MORNINGTON RAVE PARTY HALTED

Plans by the organisers of this month's controversial rave party at
Kryal Castle to stage an even bigger one at Mornington Racecourse has
sparked an outcry among locals.

Totem Industries has a permit from the Victorian Civil and
Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for a nine-hour dance music festival
in January, News Ltd papers report.

The Solar Music Festival would cater for about 15,000 people - twice
the number of people who attended the Kryal Castle rave near Ballarat
on December 8, from which 14 people were treated in hospital for drug
overdoses.

Ballarat Health Service (BHS) has since called for a total ban on
rave parties.

After the Kryal Castle rave, three people were put on life support in
intensive care after consuming a potentially deadly mix of drugs,
including GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid), ice and amphetamines,
according to the BHS.

Now Mornington residents and police say the local racecourse would
disturb a nursing home, racehorses and residences.

Victoria Police spokesman Inspector Stuart King was quoted as saying
he was concerned for the safety of residents, partygoers and health
services.

"I'm especially concerned after the experience of Kryal Castle and
this will be a similar event with more than double the people," he
said.

"We have limited health services on the Peninsula and the closest
hospital is Rosebud.

"It wouldn't take much to overwhelm them, let alone any drug
overdoses."

Racehorse trainer Pat Carey described the choice of venue as
"irresponsible".

It would be "a recipe for disaster", Mr Cary said.

"Can you imagine some ecstasy-driven idiot at 10 o'clock on a Sunday
night after he's been to a dance party wandering into a horse
property and getting hurt?"

Mr Carey said the music would terrify his 30 horses in nearby
stables.

"The racecourse stands to make $40,000 from this festival, but the
damage it will cause us could be hundreds of thousands of dollars,"
he said.

Mornington Peninsula Council has already opposed the granting of the
permit due to noise and traffic issues.