NIMBYs claim more Sydney concerts will impact their mental health

Residents living near Allianz Stadium and the SCG have issued a strange compensation demand to make up for the mental health impacts of any increase to the concert cap. Should they get a say? Take our poll.

Residents living near Allianz Stadium and the SCG could suffer mental health impacts from an “increased exposure to noise” if an archaic concert cap is increased and should be given cheap or free tickets as compensation, local NIMBYs claim.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that a plan to allow up to 20 concerts per year in the SCG precinct is already facing hurdles from locals concerned with extra noise, increased traffic congestion, and the possibility of drunk concertgoers trespassing on private property.

There have already been calls to reduce “double-header” events in a bid to reduce “neighbour fatigue,” and to give nearby residents “subsidised or free ticketing” to events “to help alleviate negative social impacts” from increasing the number of concerts allowed.

The comments came from public information sessions held by VenuesNSW in May and June to discuss lifting the concert cap with locals and stakeholders.

Increased noise, congestion, and concerns about “anti-social behaviour” were among the issues raised.

The new Allianz Stadium can host sporting games all year but is limited to holding four concerts every 12 months.

Allianz is set to host Robbie Williams later this year, and P!nk in February, rounding out the maximum number of concerts allowed in 12 months after Elton John played shows in January.

The negative impacts of increasing the cap could include “mental health and wellbeing impacts generated by increased exposure to noise,” according to VenuesNSW data obtained by the Telegraph.

However, while than 35,000 people have been reached by an early public information campaign, fewer than 200 people have engaged with early consultations – including 110 during public “pop-ups,” “drop ins” and “focus groups”.

Venues NSW has received just 37 calls or emails about the concert cap.

That suggests only a fraction of the community has a problem with increasing the cap.

Early discussions also heard support for the proposal, including for how it would help reinvigorate Sydney’s entertainment offerings.

P!nk is due to perform at Allianz in February next year. Picture:Anna Kurth/ AFP)

A planning submission to increase the yearly cap on concerts in the SCG precinct from four to 20 is expected to be lodged as early as this week under a plan to deliver almost a billion dollars worth of economic investment over Allianz Stadium’s lifetime.

Sports Minister Steve Kamper yesterday vowed to press ahead with his plans to increase the concert cap despite concerns of a vocal minority.

“We’ve reached out to 35,000 people to date and only a couple of hundred have raised any concerns, it’s clear there’s overwhelming support to lift the cap,” he told the Telegraph.

Elton John performs his first Sydney Show at Allianz Stadium on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. Picture: John Appleyard

“We’re committed to getting on with this process and getting entertainment back in the entertainment precinct.”

Business NSW Executive Director David Harding yesterday declared that a few “grumpy NIMBYs” should not hold Sydney back.

“Great cities do buzz, and they buzz with music. I don’t think we should let the voice of the few get in the way of the enjoyment of thousands,” he said.

“International artists bring tens of millions of dollars in value to NSW, it’s just a few voices getting in the way of a major economic benefit,” he said.

Robbie Williams, who played at last year’s AFL Grand Final, is due to perform at Allianz later this year. Picture: Mark Stewart

Meanwhile, it can also be revealed that the government is moving to make post-match concerts a staple of sporting games at the new Allianz Stadium.

The next VenuesNSW chair will be tasked with increasing live music and dining options available to fans after games in a bid to make better use of the new $828 million stadium.

It comes after 1,000 people partied on at the SCG after the Sydney Swans embarrassed the West Coast Eagles 205-34 last month, dancing to a post-match concert by Sneaky Sound System.

Food and drink sales continued during the concert, increasing VenuesNSW revenue, and the concert staggered post-match congestion in the precinct.