FOUR people have been taken to the Ballarat Base Hospital from the Rainbow Serpent music festival in Lexton, with one day still remaining.
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A further five attendees transported themselves to hospital, while a further 500 received medial attention on site.
Ambulance Victoria spokesperson John Mullen said the overall ambulance service had been pleased with the response of the crowd.
“Compared to other years it’s been quite good.”
Over 15,000 punters were expected to flock to the four day event in Lexton, which is now in it’s 20th year.
In 2010 five people were admitted to hospital from drug overdoses, while in 2012 a 34-year-old Epping man died from a drug overdose.
Pyrenees Shire mayor Michael O’Connor said drug use was an issue across society as a whole, and the Rainbow Serpent organisers had done huge work to discourage drug taking.
“I’m sure there were people presenting in Ballarat with drug and alcohol related illness,” Cr O’Connor said. “But I don’t think it’s solely limited to the Rainbow Serpent festival.”
Lexton does a great job of supporting the festival and the festival does a great job of supporting the community.
- Michael O'Connor, Pyrenees Shire mayor
The international music and arts festival also has a strong philanthropic element, with the festival raising funds for local groups and organisations.
Earlier this month mental health service Headspace, environmental group Breaze, community radio station Voice FM and Ballarat Community Health all received a share of $10,000 from the festival.
Cr O’Connor said the festival had developed a great working relationship with the Lexton and Beaufort communities, and had played a critical role in the survival of many local organisations.
“Lexton does a great job of supporting the festival and the festival does a great job of supporting the community.”
The four day festival finishes on Monday, with police set to release statistics on crowd behaviour soon after.