Top Brisbane music venue in battle against $1.5 billion tower development

One of Brisbane’s top music venues is appealing Brisbane City Council’s approval of a $1.5 billion Newstead project, warning its future residents could inundate them with noise complaints.

The council approved Panettiere Developments’ Little Italy project, a three-tower development that would include 1001 built-to-rent units, on October 30.

That prompted the Triffid, a joint venture between ex-Powderfinger bassist John Collins and Hutchinson Builders, to seek to have the approval thrown out – or at least amended – in the Planning and Environment Court.

Three residential towers, with 1001 apartments, have been proposed for Newstead in a new Italian-themed development.

Collins declined to comment, as did Hutchinson Builders, but in their notice to appeal submitted to the court on Friday, law firm Connor O’Meara cited concerns about possible complaints from residents about noise coming from the popular venue.

They argue the Triffid, which opened in 2014, is a “long-established and successful live music venue serving the Brisbane community” and, as such, should not have to deal with noise complaints from future residents.

Triffid owner John Collins in the live music venue's beer garden.Credit: Chris Hyde

“As a result of the deficient noise assessment undertaken for the development application, the development does not ensure that bedrooms and living rooms are designed, located and constructed to protect occupants from existing or future amplified music that may arise from premises outside the building,” Connor O’Meara submitted to the court.

In their appeal, the Triffid and Hutchinson argue the approval failed to manage the expectations of future residents and would subject the venue to “ongoing complaints about noise”.

In 2017, the council extended the Fortitude Valley entertainment precinct to include the Newstead venue, protecting the Triffid from residents’ complaints.

That recognition was noted in their appeal.

“It is in the public interest that the continued operation of live entertainment venues such as the Triffid, which the planning scheme makes express provision for, are protected,” they submitted to the court.

The appellants are seeking a refusal of the development application or, failing that, amendments to the approval that adequately address the noise issue for residents.

Comment has been sought from Panettiere Developments, which earlier this year costed the project at $1.5 billion.

Just before the state election campaign, then-premier Steven Miles named Collins Queensland’s first Night-Life Economy Commissioner.

Collins also runs the Fortitude Music Hall, which opened in 2019, as a joint venture with Hutchinsons.

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