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Found this on Oztrance...
Drug dogs for dance festival
November 20 2006
Shepparton News
Police will use drug detector dogs at the Earthcore dance festival at Undera in an attempt to reduce drug use at the two-day dance celebration this weekend.
Kyabram police Sergeant Darren Wallis said emergency services would work together to provide a safer environment for Earthcore-goers.
"By using the detector dogs we'll be able to reduce the amount of drug use," Sgt Wallis said.
"We need to support the ambulance services who are dealing with a lot of drug-related injuries (at the event)."
In 2004, 22-year-old Melbourne man Stephen Henshall died at the festival when he drowned in the Goulburn River, while 19-year-old James Oates disappeared and was found 36 hours later.
That year Goulburn Valley Base Hospital recorded 11 category one admissions - the most severe emergency rating - compared with a monthly average of six.
"People come with the wrong idea - we're very positive towards the event and we want to make it a nice enjoyable weekend without people harming themselves," Sgt Wallis said.
While Earthcore organisers did not wish to speak to The News about the event, Sgt Wallis said they had been working with the police.
"They've been very proactive in relation to their patrons' safety," he said.
Although drug-related injuries are a concern for emergency services, Rural Ambulance Victoria area manager Graham McGrath said they were not the only injuries.
"There's a wide variety and they're not all drug-related . . . we deal with asthma attacks, bites and stings and mostly sprained ankles," he said.
Mr McGrath also supported the use of drug detector dogs.
"It will certainly make a difference and I'm in support of anything that will make for a safer venue, while people can still enjoy themselves," he said.
"We'll have two crews, a 24-hour incident command centre and senior duty officers in attendance all the time - we also work with other operations such as St John Ambulance."
Last year Goulburn Valley Health objected to the festival being hosted on the same weekend as Shepparton's annual Spring Car Nationals, saying it could not cope with the possible demand because of a 20 per cent reduction to the emergency department due to renovation.
Greater Shepparton City Council refused the permit, a decision that was then overturned when Earthcore organisers won an appeal at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Hospital chief executive officer Greg Pullen said this year the emergency department would remain on alert.
"We were very quiet last year, but we've always got to take into account some other significant event happening or it being busy," he said.
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