Page 4017 - Week 09 - Thursday, 26 August 2010
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Here in Canberra, from the Australian Hotels Association ACT Branch, there were General Manager, Mr Steven Fanner, and Membership Officer, Mr Gwyn Rees. I also mention the following people from the venues: Julie Stelzer of the George Harcourt Inn in Gold Creek; Patrick Collins of the Lighthouse bar in Belconnen; Frank Condi of Sub-Urban in Dickson; and Marc Grainger of the Transit Bar in Civic.
The committee heard from a wide range of people and organisations—those who are in support of live music venues and the opportunity they can afford and those who believe that their current arrangements are impacted by the proximity of such venues. It also heard evidence about the long-term effect of noise exposure on one’s hearing.
The committee noted the Cultural Ministers Council guide. One of the actions suggested in the guide is that state and local governments consider “publishing a dedicated live music and entertainment noise guide to encourage best practice in live music venues”. The guide also suggests:
Liquor legislation should acknowledge that the live music sector may be associated with the provision of alcohol. It should also help to ensure that the live music and entertainment industry are considered in licensing matters.
The committee also found that it appears that the community is somewhat unaware of the appropriate authority with which to lodge different types of noise complaints and how best to lodge a complaint.
The committee recommendations included monitoring current noise levels in the city and town centres and amending noise standards to reflect the ambient and background noise levels, as well as managing peak and intermittent noise; greater consideration for, and increasing industry awareness of, the occupational health and safety risks for noise exposure; possible establishment of entertainment precincts; enhancement of noise attenuation, or sound insulation, requirements for new developments; possible assistance for existing businesses to improve noise attenuation; possible inclusion of order of occupancy principles in the objects or aims of the liquor law and ensuring that any proposed amendments to that act would not impose unreasonable barriers to the presentation of live music events; consideration of authorisation for one-off or annual events; access for performers to appropriate government-owned and community facilities and affordable insurance arrangements; and late night transport considerations.
The committee would like to highlight that this final report should be read in conjunction with the interim report. In closing, I would like to thank my fellow committee members, Ms Le Couteur and Mr Coe; the committee secretary, Mrs Kosseck; and the staff of the committee office, particularly Ms Chung, who assisted the committee during the course of this inquiry. I commend the report to the Assembly.
MS LE COUTEUR (Molonglo) (11.03): I am very pleased that the committee is today tabling its report into the inquiry into live events. I would like to echo Ms Porter’s words in terms of thanking the secretariat, Mrs Kosseck and Ms Lydia Chung, for their support during this inquiry and thanking my fellow
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