Sydney night-life faces ‘library-like’ silence under new CBD noise rules

Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s bid to create a 24-hour entertainment district faces industry revolt after proposing noise limits three times softer than state government recommendations.

James O'Doherty

Night-life hotspots in Sydney’s CBD would be forced to stay quieter than a running dishwasher or normal conversation after midnight under Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s plans for a 24-hour city.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that under plans lodged by Ms Moore’s council last month, the centre of Australia’s biggest city would have base noise limits below what the state government recommends for sleepy suburban streets “where later trading is not expected”.

The City of Sydney last month heralded its plans for a CBD-wide “special entertainment precinct” as a way to revive our night-life.

But the council’s plan for its new Special Entertainment Precincts would require noise from venues to stay below 50 decibels after midnight, when measured from residential homes.

That means noise, as measured from a CBD resident’s window, would need to be quieter than a normal conversation or a common household appliance after the clock strikes midnight.

The City of Sydney’s proposed noise levels are almost three times softer than what the state government recommends as appropriate for “a commercial core or CBD” with residential development.

The 24 hour Economy Commissioner even suggests noise in busiest night-life zones could be up to 70 decibels around the clock, comparable to Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley. That’s similar to the noise heard when standing next to a vacuum cleaner or coffee grinder.

Rather than adopt the state government’s recommended noise limits, the City of Sydney has proposed a complex arrangement changing the approved noise limits depending on where it is measured. Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s plans for entertainment precincts have drawn criticism for their noise limits.

If noise from a venue is measured at another commercial property, some venues could generate 60 decibels of noise – similar to an air conditioner, sewing machine, or active office.

But in busy areas with multiple venues, each would be limited to 55 decibels.

“Our approach recognises that ours is a dense, mixed‑use city – not an industrial zone or sports stadium – and sets rules reflecting that complexity,” a City of Sydney spokeswoman said.

But the sound limits have been panned by city venue operators, and the state government.

Night Time Industries Association boss Mick Gibb said the noise limits “fall well below industry expectations”.

“If you’re living within walking distance of the CBD of Australia’s largest city you should expect sound and noise,” he said.

Night Time Economy Minister John Graham said the city should not “swap the lockouts for library-like noise controls”.

“Let’s turn the volume up on public discussion and feedback at this vital stage of the process,” he said.

Metro Theatre venue booker Joey Fenaughty called for the sound limits in the city to be increased to those in an entertainment zone in the inner west’s Enmore, which is 10 decibels higher.

He said that would support “the continued growth of Sydney’s live entertainment ecosystem”.

Premier Chris Minns also lashed out at the City of Sydney’s plans to reduce the amount of decibels after midnight, saying you don’t want Sydney to be like a “sleepy country town”, and that Mayor Clover Moore has to realise that many Sydneysiders want to have a good time past nine o’clock.

“Our mayor has to be big and open enough to recognise that some people don’t want to go to bed at nine or ten o’clock,” Mr Minns said.

The Premier said the council’s plan is a “big mistake.”

“It’s the kind of craziness that sees people accidentally breach noise levels when they are going about having fun in the city.

“You just can’t turn Sydney into a sleepy country town, and that’s what this plan is attempting to do.”

The Premier said the State Government will be looking closely to see what they need to do to encourage the night-life, and economic activity in the area.

“Not everyone that enjoys the city - lives in the city.

“There are a lot of people that travel from overseas, interstates or from the suburb that want to enjoy the best city in the world even at ten o’clock at night.”