Police have backed away from a defiant drumming circle in the Gold Coast after they attempted to shut down a gathering after a controversial ban.
Hundreds of locals and keen drummers heckled police at the Burleigh Heads park on Sunday to support the weekly event.
Gold Coast City Council erected a sign in March 27 to ban outdoor activities such as fire twirling, slacklining and the playing of bongo drums over concerns of anti-social behaviour.
Hundreds of locals and keen drummers heckled police at the Burleigh Heads park on Sunday to support the weekly event.
The Gold Coast council backflipped on a ban which prohibited fire twirling, bongo drums and slacklining at a popular Burleigh Heads park
The signs were are directed at a series of drumming circles and cultural events which fed-up locals claim went hand-in-hand with alcohol and other substances.
The Bongo drumming organiser, Karen Achilles said police had attempted to shut down the Burleigh tradition but gave up.
‘No one was moved in the end, I don’t think there was any idea just how many people would show up,’ she told the Bulletin.
A spokesperson for Queensland Police said they attended the park in a ‘mediatory role’ and saw no issues with the event.
The council back flipped on the plan after a social media uproar about the ban
The council back flipped on the plan after a social media uproar about the ban.
Days later, Mayor Tom Tate advised the community via Facebook that Councillor Pauline Young was sorting out the issue.
‘The sign is being replaced with one that says that says the activity just needs a permit – which is really about the players and especially the fire twirlers having insurance in case someone gets hurt, especially children,’ he wrote.
In less than 24 hours when the sign was erected, it had already been vandalised with the words ‘fun’ over the new park rules
‘The players, fire twirlers and slack rope walkers just need the same public liability insurance like personal trainers in parks.
‘I think this means the bongos will be right to keep going.’
Complaints of excessive noise, a lack of respect for the area and graffiti were detailed as an issue according to the paper.
In less than 24 hours when the sign was erected, it had already been vandalised with the words ‘fun’ over the new park rules.
One person had drawn attention that this ban might be directed at American actor, Matthew McConaughey who was arrested for playing the bongos nude while he was high on marijuana in Austin, Texas.