Schoolies event backed amid Facebook warnings Torquay Festival plan

Alex de Vos
Residents and police have backed plans for a beach-style music festival at Torquay during controversial Schoolies Week celebrations.
Melbourne entertainment company Stacked has scheduled the festival for December 5 after announcing the event on a Facebook Torquay Schoolies 2009 group.
The group’s administrator, a Scotch College student, said Stacked Schoolies Festival Tour would feature “DJs, fun and antics”.
“Our events are gonna be festival-style events giving a beach party vibe for you guys to rock out at,” the administrator wrote.
“So try (to) smash the books hard so when it’s all over you’ll be able to party even harder with us at our beach parties.”
The festival tour kicks off in Melbourne on November 19 before reaching Byron Bay on November 30 and finishing in Torquay.
Surf Coast Shire Community and Ratepayers Association president Spen-cer Leighton cautiously supported the event.
“Any entertainment for the schoolies is good – we’ve got to drag them out of the hotels,” Mr Leighton said.
“As long as it’s managed properly and there’s no alcohol, I think it would work.
“There’s nothing wrong with schoolies – we love them, apart from the vandalism.”
However, Mr Leighton feared the festival would lure troublemakers to Torquay.
“The only thing we’d be wary about is that it would bring all the other scum in – the people with no teeth and tattoos from Broadmeadows who prey on the schoolies kids,” he said.
Torquay Police Sergeant Jason Van Doren gave the proposed event a thumbs up.
“It’s the first I’ve heard of it but anything that keeps them entertained and out of trouble is a good thing,” Sgt Van Doren said.
“As long as they go through the right processes then it will be up to Surf Coast Shire to determine whether it’s the right event for the right time of year.”
Last year the Independent revealed that schoolies on the way to Torquay and Lorne were using Facebook to organise sexual liaisons and plan hi-jinks.
More than 350 members have joined the 2009 Torquay Schoolies group.
One member planned to “rip the place up”.
Another member warned residents to “prepare themselves”.
Surf Coast Shire schoolies working group coordinator Jackie Hetherington said she was unaware of the event.
“I’m not aware of any permits that have been received for the festival,” Ms Hetherington said.