Harbour stampede after party lockout

Date: 02/01/2002

By Kelly Burke and Amy Kimber

An investigation has been launched into a New Year's Eve fracas at The Rocks, which resulted in angry confrontations between police and thousands of ticket-holding party-goers.

More than 10,000 people were expected to attend the Harbour Beats dance party at Wharf 3, but by 10pm thousands of would-be revellers who had forked out more than $120 each to attend the party were locked out, with security staff and police telling the crowd the venue was full.

At 10.45pm, an angry crowd of several thousand attempted to stampede the venue's entrance, after being told there would be a wait of up to four hours for admission. According to witnesses, many broke through the police barrier.

A police spokesman said yesterday that about 20 reinforcements, including mounted police, were called to Wharf 3 to assist with crowd control after several thousand people were refused entry.

"We understand that more tickets were sold than people could fit into the venue," said the spokesman.

No arrests were made, but investigations are continuing.

The Herald understands that tickets for the event had sold out by Sunday evening. The following morning, however, thousands of additional tickets were placed on sale.

The event's organisers, led by Sydney nightclub owner Eric Jury, could not be contacted yesterday. A spokeswoman for the party's publicists said none of the organisers was returning her calls.

By midday yesterday, hundreds of ticket holders had called Ticketek demanding refunds, and were told the company was waiting on instructions from the event's organisers.

James Longhurst, of Kirribilli, spent more than $1200 on Harbour Beats tickets for himself and his friends, all of whom were turned away at the door.

"Everyone was really upset," Mr Longhurst said. "There weren't any announcements telling us why we weren't allowed in. It got pretty hostile and volatile. It's not right."

Kim Phelan, who travelled from Melbourne for the party, said she and her friends were left stranded and frightened.

"The atmosphere was very angry and tense - when people started barging through the gates I thought it was full-on riot potential," she said.

"Just before midnight, the police made it clear we weren't going to be let in. But where were we supposed to go? We didn't think we'd need a plan B."

Elsewhere in the city, New Year's Eve revelry continued well into the morning. Rubbish from street celebrations littered city streets as late as 11am yesterday.

Sydney's Lord Mayor, Frank Sartor, said the clean-up was behind schedule because lingering crowds had delayed trucks and cleaners.

Mr Sartor denied that the smaller crowds at the fireworks reflected community disapproval over the cost and timing of the display.

"Particularly from the police's point of view, a smaller crowd is easier to manage, so, not at all, 500,000 people is nothing like a snub," Mr Sartor said. "The vast majority of people want this event, love this event. Over 80 per cent watch it either on television or directly. There is no taxpayer money put into this event."

Inquiry into party lockout as full refunds promised

Date: 03/01/2002

By Juan-Carlo Tomas

The Department of Fair Trading is investigating how a New Year's Eve harbour dance party was oversold by thousands of tickets, as the promoters promised refunds to those refused entry.

The promoters of the Harbour Beats party at Wharf 3, Dakota Creative, said ticketholders could get their $120 ticket price back today and tomorrow.

Thousands of people who had bought tickets to the event were locked outside by 10.30pm on New Year's Eve after the venue was closed because of overcrowding.

The NSW Fair Trading Minister, John Aquilina, said all affected ticketholders were entitled to a refund.

"I understand that some 13,000 tickets were sold and a further 1000 given away for a venue that was licensed for only 8000 people," he said.

Dakota Creative did not return the Herald's calls yesterday, but a recorded message said ticketholders would receive "reimbursements" if they brought their ticket and proof of purchase to the company's Darlinghurst office.

"In discussions with Fair Trading, the organiser offered to provide tickets to some future events in place of refunds," Mr Aquilina said. "Consumers may accept alternative forms of redress if they prefer, but they are entitled to a full refund where a service has not been provided."

Dance forums on the Internet were inundated with comments from disgruntled clubbers, who blamed everything from a glut of counterfeit tickets, to improper licensing and poor organisation for the party lockout.

Police said they were continuing their investigation.

Mr Aquilina said the Department of Fair Trading was also investigating whether the organisers were in breach of the Fair Trading Act, which carries a maximum penalty of $22,000 for individuals and $110,000 for corporations. "This incident highlights the need for the current review of the Entertainment Industry Voluntary Code of Conduct," he said.

Submissions to the inquiry closed on December 21, but will be accepted from Harbour Beats ticketholders until January 11.

Ticketholders wanting refunds should go to 27/94 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst between 10am-4pm today and tomorrow.

-    NATIONAL   No apologies from organiser of NYE bash Eric Jury, refunding money at his office on Friday, says he sold so many tickets to his New Year's Eve party 'to look after people'.Picture: Grant Turner By Matthew Benns The New Year's Eve party organiser who oversold his dance party and left thousands of revellers stranded in the street has claimed he did nothing wrong. Eric Jury sold 13,000 tickets at $120 each for the Harbour Beats party at Wharf Three in The Rocks even though it was only licensed to hold 8,000 people. He gave away another 1,000 complimentary tickets. "In the press I am this terrible, greedy promoter, which isn't the case," said Mr Jury, who runs the Goodbar Nightclub, Tantra Bar and L'otel bar and restaurant. "Of course you are in business to make money and you are in business to look after people and that's what I wanted to do." But thousands of ticket holders who were queuing to get into the dance party at 10.30pm on New Year's Eve felt they were not being looked after when mounted police turned them away. Police officers decided the venue was overcrowded. Reveller Warren Coleman, 33, an IT professional from Coogee, found himself crushed between the closing gates to the venue and the mounted police. "It was a pretty miserable New Year's Eve," he said. "We had expected to walk straight in because we had tickets but instead we found ourselves queuing for hours." Mr Jury, the son of bankrupt former real estate tycoon Eric Jury snr, said: "The venue was licensed for 8,000 people at any one time which means that 100 people walk out and another 100 people walk in. "People do not all go there at any one time. The event ran for 12 hours. Some people came to see the 9pm fireworks, some people came to see the [midnight] fireworks, some people came at 2am after going to another party. "We did not have one incident. There was no need for the police to stop people coming into the venue because our security was doing the right thing and we had no problems." Mr Jury, who says he is an investor in party organiser Dakota Creative, has now agreed to refund up to $600,000 worth of ticket money to people who had their New Year's Eve ruined. On Friday people were queuing again - this time outside Mr Jury's Oxford Street office as they waited to get their money back. NSW Fair Trading Minister John Aquilina said Mr Jury was "certainly an aggressive promoter" and was now being investigated by both his department and the police. He said charges and fines of up to $110,000 could follow. "His excuse was that normally at these sorts of events these people come and go and he would not accept that he had any responsibility," Mr Aquilina said. "He said it was the police that locked people out, but I applaud the police for their actions. "His argument does not stack up. This wasn't any ordinary night and it should have been accepted that these people would be there until at least midnight." A police spokesman said the actions were taken in the interests of public safety. But Mr Jury is seeking legal advice and said he hoped to claim damages against the NSW Police for closing the party down. The Sun-Herald