Fears a live music venue will shut down in Port Adelaide over a single noise complaint
Fears a live music venue in Port Adelaide could shut down after a single noise complaint has mum and dad owners embroiled in a legal nightmare.
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A family run neighbourhood bar fears it will have to shut down after a single noise complaint cost them about $100,000 and has them embroiled in a legal nightmare.
Milledges Distilling Co in Port Adelaide opened about three years ago and received a complaint from a nearby resident last year.
The live music, bar and cafe venue owner met with the neighbour and spent a considerable amount of money to alleviate some of the issues, but it was not enough.
Milledges Distilling owner Adrian Galindo said they made various changes to the venue to reduce noise and installed sound insulation, but a complaint was made to Liquor and Gaming in April last year.
He said the complaint was dismissed because only one person made the complaint and the authority needed 10 people in South Australia before it could be pursued.
“Suddenly the council picked up the complaint and someone in the planning department decided they were going to pursue it,” he said.
Mr Galindo attended a conciliation session with a representative from the City of Port Adelaide Enfield to resolve the issue, but claims they wanted him to shut down the bar and stop playing live music at the venue
Now it has been referred to the Licensing Court of SA where Mr Galindo will have to fight the complaint.
“We did offer do help him out with soundproofing his house, because he had no insulation in his roofing and had big holes in the garage. He turned that down,” Mr Galindo said.
Mr Galindo said he had been through the miserable side and now it felt like he was in the middle of a blitz.
“There’s not so many tears anymore but it is absorbing an awful lot of time and effort,” he said.
“We’re just a mum and dad business, we’re not a big outfit but we’re up against this whole structure using taxpayers’ money.”
Milledge’s bar manager Scott Anderson started a petition to support the venue.
The petition has been signed by hundreds of people saying it would be a devastating loss to the community if it closed.
“Milledge’s is well known for supporting their community whilst providing an alternative venue for theatre and music,” Nic Lambert said.
City of Port Adelaide Enfield issued a statement saying the council received concerns from nearby residents about Milledge’s compliance with its liquor licence and looked into the matter.
“We sought to work with both parties to address the concerns and ensure the business was operating in accordance with its approval,” a city spokesman said.
“The mayor and elected members do not have a role in this process, council administration has a regulatory obligation to ensure this occurs.
“We have made various recommendations to the business on how to resolve these issues, including suggestions on how to reduce noise levels.
“Throughout this process, the business has been permitted to continue to operate without any restrictions, and at no time have we sought to close the business down.
“We value Milledge’s contribution to the community and want the business to be able to continue to operate successfully.”
“The city would not comment further about the issue because it was not before the Licensing Court.
“The matter is now before the Licensing Court, and it is inappropriate for us to comment further whilst these proceedings remain unresolved.”
Originally published as Fears a live music venue will shut down in Port Adelaide over a single noise complaint