Moore Park Entertainment Quarter plans cut back after neighbour noise objections, ‘mental health’ impacts

A proposal to allow a range of new entertainment offerings at Sydney’s Moore Park precinct has been drastically cut back after attracting criticism from ‘Nimby’ residents over potential noise and ‘mental health’ impacts.

A proposal to allow a range of new entertainment offerings at Sydney’s Moore Park precinct has been drastically cut back after attracting criticism from ‘Nimby’ residents over potential noise and ‘mental health’ impacts.

The number of people allowed to attend new community markets, live music events, food and truck stalls and other temporary events planned at the Moore Park Entertainment Quarter has been slashed from 8000 to just 3000 in response to objections from homeowners living within earshot of the site.

The entertainment proposal is spearheaded by Carsingha Investments, headed up by businessman John Singleton and Gerry Harvey, which wanted to allow three sections of the Entertainment Quarter to be used for community and temporary events such as exhibitions, community markets, and cultural events.

But the company has been forced to bow to community pressure, cutting the crowd capacity by more than half in response to stiff opposition from residents over concerns ranging from crowd behaviour to noise.

The City of Sydney Council has also met with Carsingha Investments to discuss the concerns by residents and potential impacts on the community.

The proposal involved allowing more community events at the Entertainment Quarter.

In 51 pages worth of public submissions, some residents claimed the entertainment offerings could lead to “hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep disturbance, stress, mental health and cognition problems”.

Resident Maria Bradley said the proposal could “saturate” Moore Park with “drinking, noise, large crowds and associated anti-social problems while resident Greg Lenthen said the “level of noise” was a “serious concern to most residents”.

“I can only imagine what hell it will be taking the car anywhere if this application is approved,” Antony Reynolds wrote in another submission.

Residents living near the precinct have raised concerns over the proposal.

Resident George Newhouse raised similar objections, arguing the proposal was “inappropriate” and could impact homes which adjoin the entertainment quarter.

City of Sydney councillor Lyndon Gannon has slammed opponents to the plans.

“I don’t see the sky falling in if there are more events here – the site is in the shadows of the Sydney Cricket Ground for crying out loud and I want to see this town pumping again,” he said.

“Limiting the ability to have fun is not going to achieve that.”

Melissa Neighbour, co-founder of Sydney YIMBY.

Melissa Neighbour, co-founder of Sydney YIMBY, said she was “stunned” by the negative feedback from some members of the community which has an average weekly income of $2154 – more than 20 per cent higher than the state average.

The average median household income on Lang Rd is almost $4000.

“There’s a culture in inner Sydney where everyone wants people to be quiet after 8pm so they put their slippers on and get a good night’s sleep,” she said.

“If you can’t have entertainment in an entertainment quarter where can you have it?

“No wonder the night-life of Sydney is dying.”

The plans were lodged by Carsingha Investments, headed up by businessmen John Singleton and Gerry Harvey

The City of Sydney is set to approve the scaled back proposal at a meeting this month on the proviso the operation complies with 25 conditions including a ban on ancillary music after 10pm.

The conditions also prohibit the use of subwoofer speakers, and include a requirement for event organisers to control the behaviour of patrons entering and leaving the precinct to ensure crowds to not “detrimentally affect the amenity of the neighbourhood”.

Objections raised by residents have also centred on the cumulative noise impacts from the nearby Allianz Stadium following the NSW Government’s decision to lift the cap on the number of concerts that can be held at the stadium each year.

Plans by Carsingha Investments, however, stated the proposal would revive “under-utilised” sections of the precinct and provide a diversity of events beyond traditional sport and recreational offerings.

Michael Hodgson, CEO of The Entertainment Quarter, said the plans lodged with the council were aimed at enabling more day to day activations and attractions.

“We are in ongoing discussions with the Council and hope to have a resolution that satisfies all parties and the local community in the near future,” he said.