Live music and noise rules requiring pubs to complete acoustic reports
It can be revealed 20 licensed venues in the Far North have been put on notice in relation to “unreasonable noise” with a number of them “under investigation” following mass inspections by the state government in 2023-24.
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It can be revealed 20 licensed venues in the Far North have been put on notice in relation to “unreasonable noise” with a number of them “under investigation” following mass inspections by the state government in 2023-24.
It comes as one pub 115km south of Cairns spoke out after being slapped with a warning for playing live music as a state government body warned it must complete costly sound reports or risk on-the-spot fines.
The Silkwood Hotel has entertained patrons for almost 100 years but its future is under threat following onerous restrictions and conditions.
Owners Cassie and Paul Grover have just completed a near $4000 acoustics report just so they can host live music, which the pub has done for decades.
“We had a musician ready to go, but the officer’s exact words were ‘Tell her not to play until I leave or it’ll be a $1600 on-the-spot fine until you have got an acoustic report’,” Ms Grover said.
Nestled in the sugar cane farming town of about 400 people, the hotel built in 1927 neighbours two residents, and a block of houses about 50m away.
Ms Grover said to her knowledge, there had never been a noise complaint in the three years the couple had operated their first pub.
But in December 2023, an officer from the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation visited the pub, on a Friday evening – the typical live music night for the venue.
Ms Grover said in the midst of a busy night, she briefly queried the officer.
“She said it’s part of the new liquor licensing requirements.”
A Department of Justice and Attorney-General spokeperson affirmed licensed venues were “the lifeblood” of Queensland’s night economy, but stated noise from these premises was “the most common issue reported by Queensland communities, making up about one third of complaints received.”
“Long term liquor licence holders such as the Silkwood Hotel may not have noise conditions on their liquor licences, however, are required to operate under the reasonable noise levels prescribed in the Liquor Regulation 2002,” the spokesperson said.
“Reasonable noise levels vary based on location as they’re dependent on the background noise levels in the surrounding area.
“Rural licensees may need to more closely monitor their noise levels, given acoustic noise readings of background noise is generally lower in less populated areas.”
In 2023-24, OLGR conducted over 280 routine liquor inspections – including noise assessments in Far North Queensland venues, including at the Silkwood Hotel on December 1, 2023.
In the same period, it undertook 36 investigations in relation to unreasonable noise in venues in the Far North, resulting in three infringement notices, three warning letters and 17 advisory letters being issued. A number of matters currently remain under investigation.
The department was asked why licensees were required to bear the burden of acoustic reports, and in a statement it said: “The Queensland Government also continues to strengthen its support for the industry by freezing liquor licence fees for 2024-25 and introducing initiatives like the Live Music Venue Business Grants program.”
Ms Grover explained the rules stipulated licensed venues without a sound engineer’s report were permitted a maximum noise level of 75 decibels.
If venues wished to exceed that limit, they were required to undertake an assessment at their own expense, and submit it to OLGR which would allow a maximum noise level of 90 decibels.
The noise level of two ordinary people speaking at a table is about 70.
“How are we supposed to keep bands under 90?” she asked.
“If we want to go above that we need to do a full community impact assessment, which will be another $2000.”
Ms Grover said operators in Cairns, Port Douglas and throughout the Far North had been served notices.
“For me, it’s a money grab and I’ve spoken to a lot of other people in the industry – ‘Yes, it’s a money grab’.
“Just about every pub ever has had live music, why does it now need a report and why are we paying for it?”
She said she could not understate the social significance of country pubs and the value to their communities.
“It’s more than a drink and meal, in regional areas it can be one of the few ways people socialise; but we’re just copping fee after fee after and it’s no wonder 10 regional and remote pubs are closing per week,” Ms Grover said referring to licensing requirements.
“And we’ve got so many musicians in the area, they rely on live music venues for their incomes.”
State Member for Hill Shane Knuth said he had written to the Attorney General asking for an exemption to the Silkwood Hotel.
“It’s a disgrace that we are fast becoming a nanny state, where government bureaucracy seems to be interfering in every part of our daily lives,” he said.
The Attorney General Yvette D’Ath said it would be inappropriate for her to intervene in individual cases and override the community consultation process, which was overseen by the Commissioner of Liquor and Gaming.
“While I sympathise with the Silkwood Hotel’s situation, the regulator has to weigh up the needs of business as well as the local community when it comes to noise complaints,” Ms D’Ath said.
“This is more challenging in rural areas as ambient noise levels are lower and sound tends to travel further and be more impactful to neighbouring residents.”
Federal MP Bob Katter said he had raised the issue of restrictions in the Australian Parliament, declaring: “There is no doubt that Queensland is one of the least free states on earth.”
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Originally published as Live music and noise rules requiring pubs to complete acoustic reports
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