Time to turn up the music – and Nimbys can’t complain

Seventy-seven NSW venues will be able to play louder and longer thanks to state government grants of up to $100,000 for soundproofing their venues and to encourage live music.

International artist Hayden Jamesk inside Club 77. The Darlinghurst venue will receive up to $100,000 to soundproof the club. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Venues as diverse as inner city clubs and bush pubs are among the 77 NSW venues which will be able to play louder and longer thanks to state government grants of up to $100,000 for soundproofing their venues and to encourage live music.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal 21 venues, including Darlinghurst’s Club 77, The Lansdowne Hotel in Chippendale and Avoca Threatre, which will receive up to $100,000 each.

Fifty-six venues will be given up to $80,000 to help host live performances, including iconic Bondi venue Icebergs, popular Newtown ramen joint Rising Sun Workshop, Yulli’s Brews in Surry Hills, Penrith dive bar Elton Chong, and The Family Hotel in Bathurst.

The new grants, to be announced on Sunday, come as new noise complaint regulations to protect venues come into effect on Monday.

The measures designed to protect venues from serial complainants include “order of occupancy” as a key consideration in determining noise complaints, preventing new residents from trying to restrict the opening hours of pre-established venues.

The number of people required to make a statutory disturbance complaint will increase and the trading hours of venues that offer live music or arts will be extended.

Club owners receiving soundproofing grants said the funding would dramatically change the way they operated.

Director of Club 77, Dane Gorrel, said he was now getting ready to expand the club’s trading hours.

For the 25-year-old venue, which has become a stalwart for lovers of electronic music, noise challenges are a big issue.

“We’re situated in a high-density residential area and, to be completely honest, our building is pretty old and currently bleeds noise which can affect our neighbours,” Mr Gorrel said.

“Club 77 is set to expand our offerings. We’ve received a day liquor licence that allows us to trade literally 24/7. We wouldn’t have been able to do that previously because the noise from the club would have caused too much disruption for people around us.”

Penrith dive bar Elton Chong bar manager Erin Arndell said the live performance grant would help them cement live music as part of their business model.

The venue recently began hosting live comedy, music and burlesque on Fridays and Saturdays, which it is now looking to expand.

“We have a lot of heavy metal bands playing here – and it’s so nice to have it here because there just aren’t a lot of venues out this way,” Ms Arndell said.

NSW Arts Minister John Graham said the soundproofing grants were designed to strike the balance of protecting neighbours while also boosting the late night economy.

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