Residents complain over weekend noise from Salamanca Square venues

A Hobart nightclub owner said Hobart residents need to know what they’re buying into when they move into busy areas, after complaints were made about late night venues in Salamanca. JOIN THE DEBATE >>

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A Hobart nightclub owner said Hobart residents need to know what they’re buying into when they move into busy areas, after complaints were made about late night venues in Salamanca.

Earlier this week, the Mercury spoke to a resident at an apartment who said the nightclubs were affecting the “beauty and serenity” of Salamanca Square.

Pub Banc managing director Ian Vaughan said residents needed to do their due diligence before moving.

“If you want peace and quiet, perhaps move to a different area,” Mr Vaughan said.

“Maybe the council needs to get involved and tell people that they’re buying in a nightclub precinct.”

The nightclubs in question aren’t owned by Pub Banc but Mr Vaughan said he’d dealt with similar complaints in relation to the Telegraph Hotel, which has now closed for unrelated reasons.

“I’ve been through it with a previous venue I owned, we tried to work through it with them,” he said.

Owner of the O Bar Ian Vaughan as the bar is opening its doors for the first time in months. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“They started operating Airbnbs and accommodation right next door to a late night entertainment venue.

“It’s an ongoing issue where there’s a mixed use area, there’s accommodation, people living, and nightclubs restaurants and bars all in the one precinct.”

Mr Vaughan said improvements to buildings could help.

“There’s no building codes in place and that’s part of the problem.”

“The problem is you’ve got these old buildings as late night entertainment venues, they weren’t built with soundproof in mind.”

“I’m guessing some of those apartments aren’t even double glazed.”

Tasmanian Hospitality Association CEO Steve Old said the noise was part and parcel of living in an inner city entertainment precinct.

“The reason that apartments are of significant value in that area is because they’re in such close proximity to the city, the waterfront and some of the state’s best hospitality venues,” Mr Old said.

CEO of the Tasmanian Hospitality Association, Steve Old. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“The Salamanca area has been a late night entertainment precinct for decades, one that thousands of people enjoy every weekend.”

“I think a bit of common sense would tell you that there’s likely to be a bit of noise around that area of Hobart late at night.”

The Tasmanian Hospitality Association said nightclub operators had enough challenges.

“Nightclub and late night venue operators and staff have enough challenges on their plate with the density restrictions still in place, as well as trying to keep everyone safe both inside and outside their venue,” Mr Old said.

‘City buzz keeping us awake’: Salamanca pubs in firing line

NIGHTSPOTS in Salamanca Square are affecting the serenity and beauty of the area, says a resident of an apartment complex who says he is sick of the noise.

But a leading business group has shut down the concerns, saying it was “tough luck” and that inner-city dwellers should just deal with it if they choose to live within a key hospitality precinct.

Concerns from a group of residents prompted a meeting with Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds, which also included the owners of businesses Botanica and Brick Factory.

A past event at Salamanca.

A Salamanca Square resident claimed the hospitality venues had “encroached” on the square.

“Every Friday, Saturday, Sunday night, the boom boom boom … the bass really is constant,’’ he said.

“And that makes the pleasure of sitting in your lounge room … or in summer out on the balcony, something that you just have to avoid.

“There’s also particularly on Monday mornings, a lot of debris around.”

He has lived at the apartment complex for two years.

“The serenity and the beauty of Salamanca Square is being affected, in a way which adversely impacts on the life of the residents, many of whom have been here well before the nightclubs were established,’’ he said.

“If you buy a house near an airport, you know what’s happening. But these were purchased by people before this, and I think that they are the ones that really have to take account of the residents.”

Hobart Lord Mayor, Anna Reynolds. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Cr Reynolds confirmed the meeting took place on Wednesday.

“It’s a conversation I’ve convened and I’m hopeful we can have a constructive conversation,’’ she said.

Tasmanian Small Business Council chief executive Robert Mallett said businesses had a right to conduct their trade.

“The businesses were there first, they have a right to do their business in a reasonable fashion, to at least midnight,’’ he said.

Tasmanian Small Business Council chief executive Robert Mallett. Picture Chris Kidd

“If you’re going to be a resident in the middle of a key hospitality and retail environment, you have to expect that there will be noise which might be louder than you prefer sometimes.

“To me, it’s tough luck. If you don’t want to live there, go and live out in the bush somewhere.

“If you’re going to live in the middle of the city, you’re going to have to put up with a level of commercial noise.”

The businesses have been contacted for comment.

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