Nightclub owners in Perth’s Northbridge precinct have warned that proposed noise caps could silence late-night entertainment, with one venue operator claiming no business would voluntarily opt into the new limits.
The Western Australian Government has proposed amendments allowing venues in the Northbridge Special Entertainment Precinct to operate at up to 90 decibels in the core area, with a 79-decibel limit between 2am and 5am at weekends. Venues would also face a 79-decibel limit after midnight on weekdays.
The arrangements would be optional, but Chris Patten, owner of Butterfly 73 and a City of Perth councillor, said the proposed reductions were unworkable for nightlife businesses.
“No one can comply with it. I walked around with a sound meter just around Northbridge and every venue was between 96 and 100,” he said.
Mr Patten said the proposed 79-decibel step-down would “completely kill any form of entertainment” during the early hours of the morning.
Under the existing rules, noise is measured at residential properties in Northbridge at night, with a limit of 54 decibels. The proposed framework would instead measure sound one metre from the boundary of an entertainment venue.
Mr Patten said venues had initially supported the idea of clearer rules and believed a limit of 95 decibels, measured one metre from the boundary, had been agreed following earlier consultation.
“Everyone in the industry said that was fine. But then fast-forward a couple of years later, the regulations have now been published, but they’ve changed, and it wasn’t what was originally said,” he said.
He also expressed concern that an opt-in scheme could eventually become compulsory.
“My concern is that while it might be opt-in for now, I do worry that this will become mandatory down the future, and that’s why it’s important that we need to get it right, whether it’s opt-in or not,” Mr Patten said.
Northbridge noise regulations under review
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation said the reforms were intended to provide venues with greater certainty, support new development and protect residents’ amenity.
Venues would be able either to remain under the existing regulations or apply for the higher defined limits under the proposed arrangements, the department said. Until the reforms are finalised, the current rules will continue to apply.
The City of Perth has also raised concerns, voting on September 30 to make a submission to the department. It said Northbridge needed a clear and workable framework that supported the precinct’s role while maintaining appropriate protections for residents.
The Australian Hotels Association WA said it supported the creation of a Special Entertainment Precinct and the broader aim of protecting live music, hospitality and the night-time economy, but had proposed amendments to the draft regulations.
Its chief executive, Bradley Woods, said the changes should protect residents while preserving the live music, hospitality and entertainment activity that gave Northbridge its character.
The dispute comes as the state government develops a new Nighttime Economy Strategy covering hospitality, tourism, arts and culture, and sport and recreation between 6pm and 6am.
Premier Roger Cook said the strategy would support destinations that were “vibrant, safe, and inclusive” and help strengthen an economy that employs more than 140,000 people and generates more than 23 billion Australian dollars in annual sales turnover.
The government said practical noise regulations were the final important step in establishing the Northbridge precinct and would place it among Australia’s more progressive jurisdictions for managing entertainment noise.
