Ski Club to cease hosting popular Electric Storm music festival permanently after neighbours complain

The Darwin Ski Club has permanently ceased hosting a popular annual music festival following complaints about ‘doof doof’ music from its well-heeled Fannie Bay neighbours.

THE Darwin Ski Club has permanently ceased hosting the popular Electric Storm music festival following complaints about “doof doof” music from its well heeled Fannie Bay neighbours.

The decision comes as part of an NT Liquor Commission investigation that last month saw the commission ban the “iconic” venue from playing loud music after 11.30pm in future.

It is understood the festival’s organisers have relocated the event for 2022 and now plan for it to go ahead at the George Brown Botanic Gardens on October 29.

In her decision following the probe, commission deputy chairwoman Jodi Truman said the Ski Club had “a history of being a family orientated venue” since opening in 1964.

But she said it had since expanded its clientele to “become a venue well known for holding music events and other festivals providing for a much wider and larger audience”.

Following last year’s Electric Storm festival, Ms Truman said nearby residents had complained that the music had exposed them to “undue and unreasonable” noise, which could be heard inside their homes.

The club subsequently admitted the complaints were accurate and president Paul Winter “unreservedly” committed to cancelling November’s scheduled Raindance event and confirmed “that we would no longer be hosting any more Electric Storm events (even though we have held this event for nine years)”.

“In addition, no further uncontrolled high volume electronic music events (AKA uncontrolled doof doof music) will be held at the club unless the volume & bass level can be controlled and ceased at a reasonable time,” he said.

“We have proven already this year (this) can be achieved with the Beats by the Pool DJ music event held on 16.10.21 and previous to that the Summit electronic music event held on 28.08.21, with no complaints received from the residents with agreed music volume and events cease times.”

Isaac Reid, Cassie Owen, and Teara Berthelsen get ready ahead of a previous Electric Storm.

In her decision, Ms Truman noted the club had apologised to nearby residents via a letter drop and had since won Hospitality NT’s Best Live Music Venue award for 2022.

“The licensee has also received feedback from other residents that strongly support the activities occurring at the premises and noting that they did not find the noise excessively loud or unreasonable,” she said.

“This provides support that there are others in the same location that do not have the same experience of the noise of these events.”

Ms Truman said the commission was also “sympathetic to the frustration and upset of the neighbours who lodged their letters of complaint” about the Electric Storm event.

“One of the wonderful aspects of living in Darwin is the outdoor living and being able to enjoy the outdoors year around,” she said.

“Having that interfered with by noise levels in particular can be extremely distressing and, for some, debilitating depending on how long that noise continues for.”

But Ms Truman noted the Ski Club had since “taken immediate and significant action” to address their neighbours’ concerns.

“The Commission accepts that since that time the licensee has successfully been able to undertake another large event and that this supports a finding that it is able to undertake such events and use the premises in such a manner in a way that does not cause unreasonable and undue noise,” she said.

“The commission has determined that it is appropriate to take disciplinary action by varying the conditions of the licence.

“The Commission hopes that in doing so this will enable the licensee and residents alike to continue their efforts to living more in harmony with one another and continuing to enjoy all the benefits of their location.”