Some of the criticisms are justified, but the question is, do we want to risk scaring off a nationally popular youth event that brings tens of thousands of people to Maitland each year?

Since it began in 2005, Groovin the Moo has put Maitland on the map to an untapped demographic of young people and attracts celebrities and national broadcasters such as Triple J.

But organisers came under fire after last Saturday’s Maitland festival for refusing to comment publicly after two young people suffered apparent drug overdoses.

One of them was a 15-year-old girl who was saved by quick-thinking paramedics.

Organisers released a statement on Wednesday night in response to media reports in the Mercury and other media – four days after the girl was saved.

It’s understandable that they are busy running a large scale travelling music show, and no-one is suggesting that the girl’s predicament was the festival’s fault, but comment should have been offered sooner, given the incident happened under their watch.

In saying that, two apparent drug overdoses out of about 20,000 attendees at an event is a very low proportion – 0.01 per cent.

There are likely a higher proportion of drug and alcohol-related problems at venues and homes across the Hunter on a given Friday or Saturday night.

Then there are the noise and behaviour complaints.

Public nudity and urination are obviously not problems we want to tackle in Maitland, and the young people taking part in such behaviour should know better. But it’s not like vandalism or violence spiked in the city during the event.

Reports of loud music should be of little surprise – large music festivals are loud.

Sometimes, making a complaint can seem like the easy thing to do and everyone is within their rights to do so. But Groovin the Moo is one day a year.

Those calling for the festival to move to a location that’s less central than Maitland Showground should be careful what they wish for. Such a move could mean organisers simply choose not to come back.

For an event that’s overwhelmingly about music and fun – and puts a spotlight on our city – that would be a shame.