Page 1153 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 30 May 2007
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Clearly there is a need to encourage local musicians to stay in Canberra and not to drive them out to other capital cities because of the lack of opportunity here. Added to this, live music makes living in Canberra more exciting, both for performers and for patrons.
Debate on the rights and responsibilities of live music venues and their neighbouring residents has not been limited to this community. Every state in Australia has seen fit to investigate these rights and responsibilities, with particular focus on delivering a model where interest groups at the core of the issue can come together in understanding.
In 2003 both the New South Wales and Victorian governments looked at the issue of the decreasing number of live music venues. In New South Wales it was discovered that there was a definite link between the increase in gambling facilities in pubs and clubs and the decreased willingness of pubs and clubs to host live music events. Even though gaming is restricted to clubs only in Canberra, this is still a problem. The social and economic benefits of having live music entertainment more regularly in both clubs and pubs would be significant in discouraging people from participating in gambling.
The New South Wales report was broader than that of Victoria in taking account of more social issues, but the Victorian government report focused solely on the issue of noise from live music venues. Early in 2003 the Victorian minister for planning and minister for arts established a task force to examine the effectiveness of current legislation, how current noise policies were working, the effect of these policies on the live music industry and the approaches taken by other states and territories in managing the issues.
In December 2003 the Victorian government Live Music Taskforce handed down a report on their findings. The report identified seven key issues concerning the fragile relationship between venues and residents. It said that submissions to the task force clearly articulated a wide range of support for the Melbourne live music scene. Further, live music through the pub music scene was distributed across many suburbs and regional centres in Victoria. Support for live music was as broad and diverse as the venues that host it. The report noted that demographic and land use change in inner urban areas is increasing with the residential population. Where once a pub had no neighbours, chic apartments now surround it. Conflict arises as a consequence of these changes.
Noise complaints are seen as a threat by venues, and residents are concerned with how venues are operated. The view was expressed that great opportunities for individual and community dialogue between venue operators and residential communities may reduce the potential for conflict. The task force also examined the issue of once compliant venues that are deemed non-compliant as a result of nearby construction of residential properties. Further, some venues are constrained locations where immediate compliance with regulations cannot always be achieved.
The Victorian experience demonstrates that this balance can be obtained—that live music venues can be protected and reinvigorated while maintaining harmonious
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