Neighbours mount noise campaign against Sydney Portugal Club

An inner west community club is sandwiched between two train lines and under the flight path, but a handful of locals complain that the noise is overbearing.

A popular Sydney venue is facing heat from a handful of whingeing residents, who have been handing out flyers encouraging other neighbours to launch official complaints.

The Sydney Portugal Community Club, which is located in Marrickville’s industrial area and next door to a heavy freight rail line, has been hosting a range of local events since the early 90s.

On Monday, a resident placed a flyer in a number of letterboxes which said: “If you found the noise from the Sydney Portugal Community Club on Friday night (4pm-9.15pm) and Sunday (10am-9.30pm) to be excessive, please take a minute to lodge a noise complaint with NSW Liquor and Gaming.

“With numerous upcoming 12-hour outdoor music events already booked in, getting the club to comply with their noise restrictions now will hopefully result in much less noise disturbance in the future.”

A flyer urging people to lodge a noise complaint about Sydney Portugal Community Club. Picture: Supplied

NSW Liquor and Gaming has confirmed it subsequently received “complaints from members of the public concerning noise” relating to the club.

It’s understood the number of complaints is fewer than five.

Andy, a local resident who received the flyer in his letterbox, described the campaign as “ridiculous”.

“You could hear the music last weekend, but it wasn’t intrusive. It finished at a very reasonable time.

“In Marrickville we have trucks coming by because it’s an industrial area.

“The planes that fly over are louder and the freight train line is much louder.

“Noise complaints like this kill venues.”

Sydney Portugal Community Club members are angry that neighbours are mounting a campaign against the venue: (l to r) Francisco David, Joe Martins, Jorge Martins, Celestino Garcia and Jack Palma. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Other residents told The Saturday Telegraph they had thrown the flyer in the bin, although several noted the music from the club is often “quite loud”.

Jorge Martins, Secretary of the Sydney Portugal Community Club described the complaints as “disappointing.”

“We’ve been doing our best to minimise any disturbances that may occur,” he said.

“These big events, we rely on them to get our cash-flow up. If we aren’t able to do those it would put us under a fair bit of pressure.”

Mr Martins said the majority of events, which sometime cater to 1000 people, conclude before 10pm.

The club is located in industrial area, near a train line and under a flight path. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The Club boasts a Portuguese restaurant, hosts regular martial arts and five-a-side football for all ages, and offers a range of food and cultural events on weekends.

It is situated in Marrickville’s industrial area, between a heavy freight line and a passenger train line, while planes fly over every few minutes.

The closest residential houses are roughly 100 metres away.

In a strong message, Music and the Night-time Economy Minister John Graham said:

“What can be heard loud and clear here is a campaign by someone to enlist their neighbours to submit complaints against an event that was held mainly during daylight hours.

“Legitimate noise complaints will be dealt with fairly, but a letterbox drop campaign to stir up a complaint does not appear to be a genuine start.”

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