Plans to amend sound management at the North Byron Parklands festival site have again sparked residents into action.
This time, it’s a request to increase the top-end frequencies, while the lower end will be ‘established’ at a certain frequency.
Parklands, the Yelgun home of Splendour and the Falls Festival, and is currently operating under direction from the state government within a five-year trial period.
Aside from ‘improving the management of sound’, Parklands management also have plans on exhibition to hold ‘small community-oriented events, local school cross-country and sporting events along with more community tree plantings.’
But Denise Nessel and Russell Eldridge, community representatives on the Regulatory Working Group (RWG) which is overseeing the five-year trial, are urging people to make submissions to the Department of Planning before the closing date of Monday June 22.
Subs close June 22
In a joint statement, Ms Nessel and Mr Eldridge said, ‘What is not made clear until you wade into the 185-page proposal is that the developers also want to increase levels of high-frequency noise,’ they said.
The pair did, however, commend the progress made by Parklands in a range of areas and its ‘recognition that low-frequency noise, or bass if you like, is causing a lot of discomfort in the community. But high-frequency noise was also a problem. People could hear the PA systems from kilometres away.’
While North Byron Parklands general manager Mat Morris did agree the proposal would see increased high-frequency noise levels, he said that would bring it in line with other festivals in the state.
‘We are asking for the same criteria to be applied to us as to other outdoor venues in NSW,’ he said.
He added that with complaints, ‘the vast majority related to the bottom-end noise’.
Surprisingly, Mr Morris says the NSW Government have never provided noise- limit criteria or guidance for bottom-end frequencies.
‘Since last the Falls Fest, the complaints dropped to 25 – there were 139 from 2014 Spendour – but we still want to do more,’ he said.
Mr Morris added that if this plan is agreed to by the state, sound volume could be written into an artist’s contract.
The proposal is at www.majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/page/on-exhibition.
After all the noise complaints they make out they’re doing locals a favour. No, not by turning the volume knob! But but seeking to increase volume! Only makes sense if you like twisting the argument. Already their approved sound levels at greater than blues festival. What a document their application is! You’d be hard put to notice that it’s about increasing noise levels. And that would suit them fine because they know that many locals are pissed at the sound levels now let alone increasing them. So what do the say? : ‘we are going to help out about high sound levels by asking the gov to bring us in line with other festivals’. !!!