Big Day Out approved for Western Springs (+graphic)

Western Springs, as it will be used for the Big Day Out in January. Photo / Google Earth/Herald graphic

Here's how the revived Big Day Out will look at Western Springs now that the event has been given resource consent by the Auckland Council to hold the festival at the outdoor venue.

The map should give you a pretty good idea of what it will look like, come January 17, 2014: three stages, lots of grass and lots of room.

The plans show the main stage in the stadium will be a double stage, having two alternating sides, as has been the BDO tradition.

The second stage will be in the field near the Bullock Track, and the third inside Western Springs Park, near the lake.

They have consent for a maximum crowd of 50,000 (less than the 100,000 which regularly attend Pasifika), and for music to run from midday to 11pm - gates will open at 11am.

They have also secured the resource consent for five years - meaning if all goes well, we could be enjoying the BDO at Western Springs until 2018.

The resource consent decision says that the plans put in place to deal with traffic, noise, and clean up, along with the operational logistics, will ensure that there is minimal effect on the neighbouring properties, and that the area will be returned to normal immediately after the event.

It also acknowledges that while there will obviously be some disturbance to local residents and local roads, there has been extensive consultation with potentially affected parties, and those issues are countered by the positive effect the event will have for Auckland.

Predictably, Mayor Len Brown is happy the Australasian festival is returning to the city once again, having previously been held at Mt Smart Stadium in Penrose, from 1994 to 2012.

"Any world-class city has a constellation of events to cater for the tastes of all of its residents - young and not-so-young. The relocation to Western Springs would bring this significant music and culture event right into the city for residents and the thousands of visitors it draws to Auckland," he said.

Indeed, the event's new location - and it's timing - were in its favour when the council were considering transportation plans. Because the location is now more central, public transport can play a greater and more varied role; and because the event takes place in mid-January when many schools, and many Aucklanders are on holiday, traffic levels on local roads are lower than normal, which makes road closures less necessary.

The decision notes that buses will be used as the major form of transportation, along with trains dropping off festival goers at Kingsland and Morningside. It also suggests a fan-trail option, similar to that used during the Rugby World Cup could be an option.

The resource consent lists specific sound restrictions with decibel limits closely monitored on the day. But fans can rest assured, you'll still have to shout to be heard over the music (and the roar of other fans) if you're standing near a stage.

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- TimeOut