Teenagers hurt in 'mosh pit' incident at Christian festival

Six ambulances and a rescue helicopter were needed to treat at least 16 people at a Hillsong religious camp and concert held on a remote property in the NSW Hunter Region.

Police said 1,300 teenagers aged between 15 and 18 had spent four days at a property in Karuah as part of the 'wildlife summer camp' being run by Hillsong Australia.

Emergency services were 'stretched to breaking point' when paramedics, police and the Hunter Westpac rescue helicopter sped to the property on Thursday night following reports that people had been crushed in a 'mosh pit' incident.

A NSW Police spokesman said one girl suffered suspected spinal injuries after "falling" from a pile of gym mats while 15 others were treated for a range of issues including heat exhaustion, an asthma attack and neck injuries.

An Ambulance Service of NSW spokeswoman said four people were taken to hospital, including two in the helicopter, with head and back injuries after being trampled on.

One girl was hospitalised as a result of the incidents.

However, a Hillsong spokeswoman claimed that the patients had suffered heat exhaustion and just needed treatment at the camp.

The spokeswoman rejected claims that anyone was injured in the 'mosh pit' at a concert being held.

The camp is an annual four-day festival for teenagers at a venue owned by Tahlee Ministries, a Christian organisation that has been holding Bible camps at the site since the 1940s.

Tahlee Ministries Director Reverend John Anderson also denied that any youngsters had been injured stating "there were no major issues, it was a hot day and the kids were out in the sun and came back in the tent in the evening, some suffered heat stroke and as a precautionary measure they were transported to hospital.

"There were activities in the big tent and with large numbers of young people there were a few collisions but it wasn't major."

The venue may be in legal trouble after it hosted the festival without approval from Great Lakes Council, ignoring a request to obtain council approval for the event.

Great Lakes Council Investigations and Prosecutions Officer Greg Pevitt said Tahlee Ministries had been told it would need development consent for the event after complaints from neighbouring residents when it was held last year.

Reverend Anderson said the group ignored the request because it believed its initial consent dating back some decades applied, adding "we're still negotiating with the council about the need for a DA, and I suppose we've had a difference of opinion to this point."

It's that difference of opinion that may land both parties in court if a solution is not found.

Pevitt explained "if we can't resolve it amicably, which I hope we can, it might result in it ending up in the Land and Environment Court for arbitration."

Pevitt added that the Council had not been informed of injuries at the festival, concluding "we contacted the venue and strongly advised against running the event without a development application and their response was that it was too late and the event had already been planned."