Australia and the UK are protecting their music venues from noise complaints, but what’s the point when Sydney no longer has much nightlife to complain about?
This is all under the Agent of Change Principle, which cancels out noise complaints that used to be valid and backed by the government. It means that property developers who plan to build near venues have to pay for soundproofing on their own.
This principle was previously trialed in Victoria, but is now coming to the UK full time. This follows thousands of noise complaints that have caused venue closures across England, which is pretty threatening towards their live music industry.
It’s no secret that clubs and music venues help add to the local culture, as well as bring in tourists and boost the economy. It also supports local music, which is usually unable to get off the ground without the platform of local venues. Despite this, as we know, there will always be people who complain. In this case, it’s the locals who insist on moving into newly developed properties near these venues, and then whinge when it gets too loud.
“When it comes to protecting venues such as pubs, clubs, grassroots music venues and LGBT+ spaces from nearby new developments, Agent of Change means Londoners can continue to enjoy the capital’s nightlife while local residents can get a good night’s sleep.” – Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London
While the nightlife in Sydney remains dormant due to the lockout laws in all the major entertainment precincts, the UK seems to be coming up with proper solutions to the threats facing their nightclubs and music venues. Sydney doesn’t really need this principle, because there’s not much left to protect local residents from anymore.
In FIB’s soon-to-be-released feature film exposé, After the Lockouts, the ideas behind Sydney’s lockout laws are explored, and how they’re harmful for a variety of groups and don’t address the needs of Sydneysiders young and old. A film like After the Lockouts wouldn’t be necessary if proper solutions were provided for the problems the city faces with its nightlife.
What do you think about this issue and the state of Sydney’s nightlife? Leave your thoughts below!