Victorian Government Opens Can of Worms for Music Venues with Noise Surveys
There are few types of resident more thrilled to have reason to rant than a live music venue neighbour.
There are few types of resident more thrilled to have reason to rant than a live music venue neighbour. While noise complaints from chip-shouldered, next-door killjoys isn't news to Melbourne live music venues, the Victorian State Government is opening a serious can of worms with a new host of targeted complaint-enabling surveys, unveiled by The Age.
With the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asking for hardcore feedback on the impact of nearby live music venues, more than 50,000 residents with homes near bandrooms, entertainment centres and gig spots will be able to air their grievances (or show their support) in Melbourne's CBD, inner-north, west and south-east.
Tackling noise pollution and assessing the effectiveness of existing noise laws, EPA Victoria will compare the survey results to the city's noise levels; with measurements taken from the main hubs around Fitzroy, South Yarra and Northcote. The surveys could be seriously bad news for Melbourne's live music venues, as a single noise complaint can cost a venue thousands of dollars in one hit.
Kicking off with your home address, the short survey asks questions such as: "How often are you bothered, disturbed or annoyed by music noise from public entertainment venues (such as pubs, clubs or outdoor entertainment venues?". Follow ups include time of day, whether it interrupted your study and any changes you made to your home as a result. The survey, which has extended its deadline to June 1, is open to the public as well as the targeted neighbouring residents.
Whether the survey leads to closures or restrictions remains to be seen, but you can bet your earplugs there'll be furious written fist-shaking from poorly-researched new homeowners to deal with.
You can make your own comments on the survey over here. Be nice.
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