Eltham Hotel appeals strict noise conditions after live music noise battle with neighbours

One of the state’s most popular country pubs is set to have strict noise conditions relaxed after a bitter noise battle that sparked a wave of community interest and petition signed by more than 16,000 people.

Eltham Pub managers Matt Rabbidge and Luke Sullivan.

One of the state’s most popular country pubs is set to have strict noise conditions relaxed after a bitter noise battle that sparked a wave of community interest and petition signed by more than 16,000 people.

The state’s Independent Liquor and Gaming regulator has approved an appeal by the Eltham Hotel, northeast of Lismore, to alter conditions imposed on the venue by Liquor and Gaming NSW last year.

The conditions followed an investigation into noise complaints from three homeowners living near the venue who claimed the sound of live bands and amplified music emanated “extreme noise” that was “impacting their quality of life”.

The complaints claimed there were instances of the venue hosting “mini music festivals” with headline bands performing to “massive sold out crowds”.

According to the complaints, the “constant thumps and humming” from live music were so loud they resonated through nearby homes.

The venue has operated for more than 120 years.

The Eltham Hotel – which has operated in the country town for more than 120 years – rejected the claims by residents and stated it had endeavoured to address noise impacts on neighbours.

Despite the objections from the venue, Liquor and Gaming NSW imposed three noise conditions on the venue that included requirements for them to install a noise limiter to reduce the sound of music, enclosing the venue’s beer garden and to abide by strict noise limits.

Eltham Hotel co-manager Matt Rabbidge opposed the conditions, saying the requirements would be “debilitating” for the venue’s ability to host live music and to support up and coming musicians in the community.

Thousands of people signed a petition in support of the venue.

In its appeal to the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority, the venue stated the conditions had resulted in live music acts having to be cancelled and that the conditions were “inappropriate and unduly burdensome”, particularly given the venue’s rural setting.

The conditions prompted a huge level of community interest with more 16,000 signing a petition calling for the restrictions to be relaxed.

Residents who made the complaints, meanwhile, claimed they had been subjected to a “derisory online” campaign from supporters of the pub that included “frightening and abusive” comments made about them on social media.

The venue has had strict noise conditions relaxed.

The venue refuted any suggestion it had encouraged such comments.

Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority chair Chris Honey last week decided to alter noise conditions which he said were aimed at ensuring the venue could continue to operate while not detracting from the “amenity of community life”.

Mr Honey noted that the “hotel was initially slow to act in addressing the disturbances effectively” but added the “venue has since upgraded equipment and successfully applied for soundproofing grants”.

The decision to alter the conditions comes after the NSW Government announced reforms aimed at cutting red tape and protecting venues from noise complaints in a bid to revive the state’s live music sector.

The previous noise conditions imposed on the Eltham Hotel stipulated that noise from the venue must not exceed background noise levels by any more than five decibels from the boundary of nearby homes, and that music must not be audible within habitable rooms of nearby premises.

The changed conditions means noise can be heard up to 40 decibels within a 15-metre radius of affected residential buildings, and that the requirement for noise not to be heard within a habitable room will only apply during night time periods.