Atet nightclub copping noise complaints from sleepless Docklands residents

A new open-air nightclub in Docklands has dramatically reduced its noise pollution – but it’s still pushing the volume boundaries.

Floating club Atet has reduced its noise pollution significantly, but is still pushing the limits of acceptable sound levels.

The brightly lit venue was pumping with partygoers on Saturday night, propped with a dramatic backdrop of the Bolte Bridge and facing Melbourne’s glimmering city skyline.

Facing widespread backlash for playing loud music into the early hours, the newly-launched venue has responded by keeping their music to a maximum of 67 decibels and average of 65 decibels.

Victorian government guidelines dictate sound levels for outdoor entertainment venues must not exceed 65 decibels, meaning Atet is still pushing the boundaries – but has made significant progress from its opening weekend disaster.

The venue has responded by keeping their music to a maximum of 67 decibels.

A Docklands resident said even though the party scene was going off, he could no longer hear the noise from his home.

A group of revellers from Kensington said they loved the venue and hoped it would be able to stay in Docklands.

“It’s such a cool idea and it’s going to be so awesome in the summer,” one woman said.

“I reckon it’ll be a massive shame if they close it down just because the music was a bit loud.

“Having said that, I get that loud music can be really annoying – I don’t think I’d want to be living on the back step of a club.”

Earlier on Saturday, local resident Martin Kingsley said after the complaints of several neighbours hit the media on October 25, there had been no noise coming from the venue at all.

“It may be because the rain has been coming in horizontally, but the venue has only had about a dozen people in it at any given time this week,” Mr Kingsley said.

“If I really strain my ears I can vaguely hear some music in the background, but I have to really work to hear it.

“As far as I know, they’re not allowed to play anything louder than background music until the report with the EPA is resolved.”

Background music is considered music that would not interrupt people talking two meters from the source, somewhat different to the “festival” atmosphere the venue was seeking to create.

Martin Kingsley is unhappy with the noise the nightclub is producing. Picture: Josie Hayden

“The aggregate opinion is that residents absolutely want the business to succeed - the problem is, they’ve made a bad first impression by not responding to the complaints in a timely way,” he said.

“But, if they can come to an agreement with the council then there’s nothing we’d like more than for the venue to thrive.”

Mr Kingsley said since the complaints blew up, Atet did not appear to be getting the crowd turnout they wanted, and he hoped the issue could be resolved swiftly so everyone can get the best outcome.

“We need to find a way to satisfy the venue as well as the area and the residents, and I’m confident we’ll sort something out.”

Aerobics champion’s health concerns over Docklands ‘doof doof’

Aerobics champion Sue Stanley is among angry Docklands residents preparing to take their complaints about a floating nightclub directly to the Melbourne City Council.

Ms Stanley said the noise from Atet, which opened on the weekend to provide a “festival” experience to revellers on the open water, was impacting residents’ health.

In a submission to council, she said an urgent check of sound levels was needed after three straight days of music blaring from 1pm to 1am over the weekend that kept people awake.

“Exposure to loud noise can also cause high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disturbances, and stress,” she says in the submission.

Sue Stanley’s submission to council complains of three straight days of blaring music.

Ms Stanley, who has received the Medal of the Order of Australia, said residents welcomed development and change but the “consistent noise is not improving Docklands but causing negative unwelcome comments”.

She even invited councillors to attend nearby homes to validate concerns.

A council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, but residents have already gathered at Town Hall to voice displeasure.

Docklands open-air club a headache for residents

Melbourne’s first floating open-air club is causing headaches for nearby residents who say they are having sleepless nights due to pounding “doof doof”.

The club, Atet, was billed as a venue that would deliver a festival-like feel akin to the party islands of Mykonos and Ibiza on Docklands’ North Wharf, with Melbourne City Council backing the venture.

It was built on an old barge, with space for up to 550 people with multiple bars and a perimeter of LED lighting.

But after one weekend of big beats and bright lights until 1am on both Sunday and Monday mornings, many residents are up in arms.

Complaints have flooded the Environment Protection Agency and council, with videos of the noise sent in alongside an acoustic report from one property owner showing a maximum 79 decibels.

Club founder, DJ Jake Hughes, said the venue had done its own testing that had come in well below limits of 70db – but promised to work with the locals to come to a compromise.

He said the club would call last drinks on Sunday night at 11pm, instead of Monday morning at 1am, as a gesture of goodwill, and that formal acoustic reports would be submitted to council.

The EPA is investigating the matter after receiving a flurry of complaints.

Martin Kingsley, who lives near to the party boat, said locals were astounded that the venue could run until 1am and that there appeared to be little effort made to redirect sound or minimise impacts on residents.

“It’s basically the equivalent of having a festival stage on your doorstep,” he said.

“If you go to the Tik Tok for the bar, one of the guys is talking about festival culture and ‘doof’ culture, and I tell you what he’s achieved that.”

Mr Kingsley said he had some experience with festivals and sound systems and said other CBD bars had hi-tech directional sound to minimise impacts on the community.

He also said the initial billing for the venue was further away from residents, who were also reporting revellers asking to use their toilets in apartment buildings.

Another resident, who declined to be named, said the situation was “untenable” with early risers on Monday “operating off four hours sleep after doof doof doof all night”.

“You could even hear it above the TV. The peacefulness of the community has been ruined, and this is going to drive people out of Docklands.”

Melbourne City Council is also investigating, after being hit with 140 complaints.

“We sympathise with residents and we’re working closely with the venue to address community concerns while ensuring ATET can add to our city’s vibrant nightlife,” a spokesman said.

Mr Hughes told the Herald Sunthere was a $250,000 sound system being rented to ensure beats were piped away from residents, but the venue would explore other options to reduce noise by 10 to 15 per cent.

He said Lord Mayor Sally Capp had praised the club’s opening weekend and that “everyone was raving about this space”, which was in an area that was a designated events space and not designed as a “quiet little backwater”.

“We saw nothing but big smiles on faces and it’s something that’s been lacking in Melbourne,” he said.

“We want to try to find a solution that works for everyone. We are going to reduce our operating hours on Sunday … to 11pm.

“Some of the concerns are warranted, and then there are a certain percentage (or people) who will complain about anything.

“Hopefully it’s a teething issue, something we can work through with the residents – we are not just ignoring them.”