The approach to the management of risk at the Old Bar Beach Festival, particularly specifically in relation to aviation activities, was ineffective and resulted in a high level of unmanaged risk that had the potential to impact on the objectives of the festival.
The ATSB is satisfied that the action taken by the Old Bar Beach Festival Committee, Old Bar Airstrip Committee and the Greater Taree City Council should lead to improvements that adequately address the safety issue.
Following this accident, the Old Bar Beach Festival Committee indicated to the Old Bar Airstrip Committee that they wished to reduce the level of aviation activity associated with the festival. They also indicated that in future they would more actively engage the airstrip committee in the risk management of activities at the festival.
The ATSB is satisfied that the action taken and proposed by the Old Bar Beach Festival Committee, in combination with the action intended by the Old Bar Airstrip Committee (see discussion below), should lead to improvements that adequately address the safety issue.
Following this accident, the Old Bar Airstrip Committee decided to close the airstrip for the duration of subsequent Old Bar Beach Festival and similar public events. They indicated that the airstrip may be opened to users prior to upcoming festivals to pre-position static display aircraft only, but that the airstrip will be closed during the festival itself.
The airstrip committee also indicated that they reviewed their policy for approving operators to use the airstrip. The committee decided to continue to require individual pilots or representatives of defined groups to obtain permission to the use the airstrip. In this respect, the committee advised that it considered a defined group to include an aero club or a vintage or aircraft type association whereby the representative has the authority to brief participants about operations at the airstrip.
The ATSB is satisfied that the action taken and proposed by the Old Bar Airstrip Committee, in combination with the action intended by the Old Bar Beach Festival Committee, should lead to improvements that adequately address the safety issue.
Following this accident, the Greater Taree City Council advised that it has reviewed its event management guidelines and issued a new series of application forms for event approval. These forms can be found at www.gtcc.nsw.gov.au. The forms cover a range of topics, and include a requirement to undertake a risk assessment process in support of any application(s).
The council also advised that it has reviewed its processes and improved support for external event management.
The ATSB is satisfied that the action taken by the Greater Taree City Council, in combination with the action intended by the Old Bar Beach Festival Committee and Old Bar Airstrip Committee, should lead to improvements that adequately address the safety issue.
