Page 1158 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 30 May 2007
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he would have understood the circumstances around that establishment and the difficulties that people there encountered—some of which, I suggest, were of their own making.
I also take issue with Toast. It is all well and good to refer to the wonderful venue of Toast, but it has caused enormous distress to numerous occupants of the Waldorf Apartments. It has not been a good neighbour. It has not respected the enjoyment and quiet amenity of those nearby. There is little evidence to suggest that it has even tried to accommodate that. The matter has been the subject of numerous complaints to authorities in the ACT. Quite frankly, I think that some balance has to be given to the neighbouring enterprise, which has lost a lot of patronage because of the inconsiderate way in which that venue has operated.
I do not simply say, “Let these creative, wonderful people just do what they feel like.” When they set up a venue like that, immediately adjacent to large numbers of people who are trying to sleep and work in normal day jobs, let us take into account the position of a large number of people who have been adversely affected. I do not think it is a good example. I am disturbed that the Green Room is going. That is in a pretty good location. It is not likely to disturb too many people out in the commercial area of Phillip.
We have to pay regard to adverse impacts from venues. I know that many live venue operators have gone to great lengths to try and ensure that they do not disturb their neighbours. They are the ones who I would stand behind and they should be the examples cited.
Notwithstanding those reservations, I agree that live music is a valuable part of the Canberra community. I hope that the government is doing and will do all that it can to ensure that the rules and processes applying to live music are fair. I hope that the government will ensure that these rules will not stifle live music in Canberra when conducted in a sensible fashion. The opposition will not be opposing this motion.
DR FOSKEY (Molonglo) (10.58): The Greens support Mr Gentleman’s motion. I thank him for bringing the important issue of live music venues to the chamber. It seems that about once a year a live music venue finds itself in a situation where it must close due to financial circumstances or noise complaints. In the last two years, it has been Toast and Tilley’s. Toast has survived, but Tilley’s has decided to stop its regular live music program. People will be aware that Tilley’s is one of the ACT’s pre-eminent music venues.
We are a polity where we focus on ensuring that our students have excellent access to music education. But after they leave school, where do they go next? We know that the School of Music at ANU is in trouble. There is a lack of venues where people can play, listen to music and develop their musical experience and education.
In May 2004, my predecessor, Kerrie Tucker, moved a motion—which was successful—calling on the ACT government to develop programs and strategies regarding young musicians’ access to venues and equipment, all-age gigs and amending building, planning and environmental regulations in the light of increased residential accommodation in city, group and town centres. This is a big problem. I
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