BY TRISHA REIMERS

GEELONG — So heated were the different opinions that police had to be stationed at a February 6 meeting of 200 people to discuss the future of the Offshore Music Festival, which has been a regular occurence in the seaside town of Torquay for years.

Festival organisers have now moved the event to Melbourne after ongoing complaints by a small number of residents, mostly organised in the group Rural Owners Against Rock.

The decision to move the festival has prompted outrage from others in the community, especially the region's youth, many of whom attended the public meeting demanding a return of the festival to Torquay next year. Some carried banners or sang about the future of the festival, while others argued that the Surf Coast Shire council should guarantee festival organisers a permit and liquor license.

Festival opponents have concentrated on noise in surrounding areas and the future of the festival in Torquay now rests on recommendations from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Country Fire Association and Rural Ambulance Victoria have publicly supported the festival, saying it has been well-organised in the past. Both local businesses and community groups are continuing to push for the return of the festival to Torquay.

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