As the number of inner-city apartments grows, so do problems associated with complaints by residents
Noise laws may sou nd death knell for old pub
AINSLIE CHANDLER and JULIE-ANNE SPRAGUE
Noise annoys: General manager of The Deen Tim Caporn says the pub is under threat due to noise complaints from new residents. Picture: John Mokrzycki
City influx: An artist’s impression of units planned for Terrace Road.
The general manager of one of Perth’s oldest operating pubs is being forced to spend $400,000 on building works after a resident who recently moved into new luxury apartments nearby complained about the noise.
The Deen’s Tim Caporn said the Northbridge hotel was under threat and was expecting more noise complaints when new apartments due to be built behind the hotel opened.
The noise complaint against The Deen, which has been operating as a pub since it opened in 1886, is being investigated by the Town of Vincent.
It was lodged by an unknown resident who has moved into the Caledonia apartment building, about 500m away on the corner of Lake and Newcastle streets.
Mr Caporn said a $250,000 wall designed to minimise noise had been built after the East Perth Redevelopment Authority removed buildings that acted as a buffer between the pub and residents to make way for its New Northbridge project.
He said Perth City Council told him that more work needed to be done because the venue did not comply with noise limits. He said the new requirements, which included building two new roofs to replace current canvas roofs, fitting sprinkler and air-conditioning systems and exhaust fans, would cost $400,000. Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan wants to raise noise limits in Northbridge and has also called on the Town of Vincent and the PCC to introduce mandatory noise reduction measures in all new residential buildings close to the area’s heart.
All buildings in the New Northbridge project must have double glazing or heavy single glazing on windows and glass doors and have bedrooms away from noise sources. But the Caledonia apartments are outside the redevelopment area.
Mr Caporn said noise limits needed to be raised because the pub breached noise limits even when it was shut because of noise from street traffic and surrounding businesses.
Perth city councillor Judy McEvoy said she would lobby the State Government for legislative changes similar to those at Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, which became exempt from noise restrictions after being declared an entertainment precinct.
Australian Hotels Association executive director Bradley Woods said inner-city noise complaints were suffocating the live music industry.
“If something is not done now there will be no venues for musicians left in Western Australia,” Mr Woods said. Several Perth venues have fallen victim to residential noise complaints in recent years.