The Council spent hundreds of thousands - some came from the Federal Govt as a special project - to build a special sunken auditorium with noise control earth berms. These were also built up recently because the organizers claimed that the auditorium wasn't good enough. The stage area was designed to be at the bottom of the area, so that sound spill was minimized.

The organizers insist on elevating the stage and speakers well above the level of the berms. The audience area is thus below the stage level. The speakers are massive - on tall vertical poles so the main axis of the sound radiates horizontally with only about 5% of the sound energy being able to go down to the audience - the bulk of the sound is projected out into the town. You can hear echoes off surrounding buildings. The SPL in the mosh pit is still about 100-120dB(C) - enough to cause deafness. Most of the amplification power is wasted for the paid attendees. The organizers will not accept this obvious observation, as "they are the experts".