New live music precincts on the agenda in ACT & Queensland

Lobbying from the live music sector has seen the ACT and Queensland exploring the possibility of setting up entertainment precincts as a solution to noise complaints.

The ACT Government has released an Entertainment Action Plan which it will trial over the summer months. The plan’s release follows a meeting in September where entertainment venues, music industry and property industry reps were invited to share their views on the draft plan.

The idea is to extend noise limits on Friday and Saturday nights from 10pm to midnight in the city and town centres and 11pm in places like Kingston.

Photo: Kingston Hotel / Facebook

According to the report, “This trial will consider the previous noise monitoring undertaken to inform the extension to the daytime noise standards on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as business and community activity in this area.

“The evaluation and associated consultation will take place over the summer months when activity is known to be at its highest.

“This will help Government to better understand land use compatibility and conflicts, noise levels, hours of venue operation and activity to inform the identification of entertainment areas.”

The Government will additionally be “tasking the National Capital Design Review Panel to consider acoustic amenity when it reviews mixed-use developments,” and ACT planning minister Mick Gentleman indicated the agent of change would be considered in future entertainment zones.

The ACT move follows three new Sunshine Coast entertainment precincts being designated this year at Nambour, Maroochydore and Southport.

These precincts will focus on live music, and existing hospitality regions in the areas will be scrapped “to reduce potential overlap and confusion.”

The Gold Coast launched The Music Action Plan 2021 that will promote Gold Coast music “by providing access to resources, promotion of Gold Coast music nationally and internationally and stronger partnerships across all tiers of government, peak bodies, and private enterprise.”

Photo: Maroochy Music Festival / queensland.com

It lists its other priorities as:

* Advocating the regulatory changes identified by the Live Music Taskforce in order to provide certainty for live music venues and artists.

* Address the identified business and creative skills deficit through the facilitation of training and mentoring programs.

* Foster a connected music community that encourages and rewards communication and collaboration between artists and industry workers.