Eltham Hotel ordered to reduce noise after investigation into resident complaints

The manager of a historic NSW pub has hit back after a series of resident noise complaints – including gripes about sound from a flood recovery fundraiser event – resulted in the venue copping strict new noise conditions.

A north coast pub has been ordered to reduce its noise levels after complaints from nearby residents claimed late-night music from the venue was “impacting their quality of life”.

The Eltham Hotel northeast of Lismore will have to abide by strict new noise conditions after sound gripes from homeowners living within earshot of the venue were investigated by Liquor and Gaming NSW.

The co-manager of the 121-year-old venue says he has been “bitterly disappointed” by the decision which comes just three weeks after the state government announced plans to introduce new laws protecting live music from the threat of noise complaints.

The laws include ‘order of occupancy’ rules – meaning complaints from NIMBYS who move near hundred-year-old pubs and live music venues will be given less weight.

The 121-year hotel Eltham Hotel was built when the town of Eltham was a bustling railway village, and has been a favourite meeting place for locals ever since.

A photo of the venue.

But a joint complaint by three residents living near the site claimed a recent change of ownership had turned the “fun and entertaining” venue into a source of noise and disturbance frustration.

Their complaints alleged “extreme noise” from live bands can occur up to four times during the busy summer and spring months.

The complaints were investigated by Liquor and Gaming NSW.

Residents described instances of the venue hosting “mini music festivals” with headline bands performing to “massive sold out crowds.”

The complaints state the “constant thumps and humming” from live music was so loud it can resonate through nearby homes and impact their quality of life.

Eltham Hotel co-manager Matt Rabbidge said the venue had endeavoured to address noise impacts on neighbours through measures including a self-imposed curfew and noise monitoring.

He said the “mini festivals” referenced by residents included complaints about a community live music event that was used as a fundraiser to support the recovery from the northern rivers flood disaster.

A photo of the venue.

“We’re a small pub in a country town and when we took over (the venue) we removed the poker machines to shift the focus to food, drink and live music,” he said.

”We support up and coming musicians and we’ve also been lucky to have had some significant acts performing at the hotel.

“In the last 18 months we’ve changed the style and frequency of the music specifically to address the complaints (from residents).

“We’re now starting down the barrel of having to put in debilitating noise controls.”

The venue’s official submission to Liquor and Gaming further added the age of the century-old pub predates the amount of time the residents had purchased homes near the venue.

The venue also relied on a submission from NSW Police which showed the venue was subject to 17 business inspections between 2020 and 2023 and “had not recorded anything in relation to excessive noise on any of these occasions”.

Eltham Pub managers Matt Rabbidge and Luke Sullivan.

Liquor & Gaming NSW regulatory operations and enforcement executive director Jane Lin, however, found there was evidence to show the venue had at times caused disturbances to the neighbourhood.

Ms Lin further noted a submission from Lismore Council which states the hotel has “constructed a number of unapproved buildings works” to the outdoor areas of the hotel which allowed for an increase in patron capacity.

The council submitted the works were permitted to be used on the basis that activities “are restricted to an acceptable level”.

Mr Rabbidge said works resulted from historic renovations of the pub which the venue was now seeking to have formalised with Lismore Council.

Ms Lin said it was “the hotel’s expansion of its outdoor areas” which had “coincided with the disturbance experienced by residents”.

“As these works have not been approved by council (this) further lends weight to the disturbance being considered undue,” she said.

In her decision, Ms Lin imposed three noise conditions on the venue including a requirement for it to install a noise limiter for amplified music.

It is understood the venue is seeking legal advice to pursue a legal appeal against the decision.