Eltham Hotel noise stoush rages on as petition signed by 13,000 Lismore LGA residents
Thousands of fervent fans are fighting to bring back unrestricted live music to a historic northern NSW pub after its owners became embroiled in a noise complaint row with neighbours.
NSW
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The battle for the bands has not been lost as 13,000 northern NSW residents fight on to bring back unrestricted live music to a historic local pub.
Around 30 per cent of the population of Lismore’s local government area has signed a petition after its owners became embroiled in a noise complaint stoush with neighbours.
Community group Friends of the Eltham, which includes over 600 local residents from Eltham, Clunes, Rosebank, Bexhill and surrounds, are “seeking to protect, advocate for, and support the Eltham Hotel in the face of the recent decision to impose noise restrictions that could see live music lost at the pub”.
Earlier this month, Eltham Hotel manager Matt Rabbidge told NewsLocal “harmony” was the only way forward after the 121-year-old pub was slapped with imposed noise restrictions from Liquor and Gaming NSW.
The restrictions came into play after neighbours said live music at the venue was impacting their “quality of life”.
After neighbours made complaints in recent months, management submitted a revised noise management plan to the office of Liquor and Gaming NSW.
A change.org petition launched by the Friends of the Eltham group has amassed 13,756 signatures – 30 per cent of Lismore’s LGA – in which Eltham is included in.
Fervent live music fans also took to spray painting ‘we love music’ on the hotel’s roadside.
A guitar with a hand-scrawled message leans against the steps of an adjoining shopfront, which reads “A town without music is like a guitar without strings”.
A spokesperson for the group said the decision from Liquor and Gaming had “threatened core community events” at the popular watering hole.
“For those who have ever visited, heard of, or performed at the Eltham Hotel, you understand the value these events bring to our community,” the spokesman said.
“The pub has established itself as a key hotspot for local, national, and international artists, offering the Northern Rivers community access to world-class touring acts that might otherwise bypass our regional area.
“The impact of the proposed sound limit threatens core community events hosted at the pub, including theatre performances, weekly trivia night, open mic nights, science at the pub, and more.
“The loss of amplified sound would not only be a blow to our community’s culture, but would echo throughout the local economy and the broader Australian music industry.”
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has also thrown her support behind the venue, saying: “One of the great live music venues in our area. I have raised this (issue) with the minister in parliament.”
Mr Rabbidge has been contacted for additional comment.
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