Crowds came in the thousands down the long and winding road to Wee Jasper to attend the 2016 Dragon Dreaming Festival.
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The festival, in its eighth year, has previously been associated with a high number of drug related arrests.
Last year’s festival saw the death of a 23-year-old woman from Sydney and 78 drug detection's over the course of the weekend - up from the 2014 count of 72. While police haven’t yet confirmed 2016 figures, they are also expected to be high.
The police concluded their six day operation on Tuesday, in which numerous people are alleged to have been found in possession of illicit drugs.
“Of note, a 59-year-old man will reappear in court next month after his vehicle was stopped on Caves Road, Wee Jasper, on Saturday,” Detective Inspector Chad Gillies said.
“Officers searched him and the vehicle and allegedly located drugs. He was charged with three counts of supply prohibited drug and five counts of possess prohibited drug.”
The man was refused bail to appear at Goulburn Local Court on Sunday, October 23, where he was granted conditional bail to reappear on Wednesday, November 9.
Organisers said the 2500 attendees were well behaved and the festival was a success.
“Dragon Dreaming discourages patrons from taking drugs and explicitly bans their use at the festival. We do recognise, however, that wherever large numbers of people gather in Australia for any kind of event, there are bound to be some who disregard this advice,” Event Director Shane Russell said.
“While we’re disappointed some patrons have ignored our banning of illicit drugs, overall we’re really happy with the way both patrons and police have conducted themselves.”
Event emergency response coordinator, Matt Wood said attendees were happy, relaxed and respectful with no violent incidents.
“Most presentations to medics involved minor falls or trips in the heavy mud. The biggest issue facing the festival and patrons this weekend is retrieving bogged vehicles,” he said.
Wanting to see the festival for himself, Yass Valley councillor Kim Turner attended the event.
“I was agreeably surprised at just how well organised and inclusive it is,” he said. “There were families and young children together having a good time. There is a tendency to look at it in isolation and say it’s a bunch of people going out to get high ... The people are just getting high on the music and beautiful scenery.”