Live music venues in Melbourne who were forced to spend tens of thousands of dollars on soundproofing to keep new neighbours from complaining have been compensated for their trouble by the state government.
As Tone Deaf has previously covered, the growth of residential development in the Melbourne CBD has led to an influx of new inner-city residents who have clashed with established live music venues and local councils.
Widely hailed laws introduced by the Napthine government last year dubbed “agent of change” meant new developments, particularly those within 50 metres of a live music venue, would bear the cost of soundproofing.
However, many venues, including iconic spots like Cherry Bar on ACDC Lane, underwent soundproofing measures before the laws came into place, forking out tens of thousands of dollars to soundproof their spaces.
Cherry Bar alone raised $50,000 via a popular crowdfunding campaign to help pay for soundproofing renovations, after a new development property arrived in the area where the venue had been operating for 13 years.
As The Age reports, last week the Andrews government handed out grants to six Melbourne live music venues who had spent their own money on soundproofing works completed or contracted between September 2010 and September 2014.
Cherry Bar, as well as Ding Dong Lounge, 1000 Pound Bend, Collingwood’s Bendigo Hotel, the Bakehouse Studios in Richmond, and Chapel St’s Revolver Upstairs have all shared in $250,000 worth of grants from the state government.
James Young, owner of Cherry Bar said he was pleased with the good news, which will cover just under half the cost his venue spent on soundproofing last year. Cherry Bar missed out on the agent of change laws by just three months.
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“It’s only fair that a venue that has operated for 13 years without a single noise complaint would have to change for a new residential block,” Young told The Age. Minister for Gaming and Liquor Regulation Jane Garrett applauded the grants.
“Our live music venues are the life blood of budding young artists and it draws musicians from around the world,” Ms Garrett told Fairfax. “These soundproofing grants will allow neighbours to enjoy peace and quiet at home and still embrace the vibrancy of where they live.”
Meanwhile, Ding Dong lounge owner and founder Bill Walsh said the grant was a major thrill. Walsh opened the Market Lane venue in 2002 but ran into complaints from neighbours in 2011 and spent $300,000 on renovations, up to $80,000 of which went to sound-proofing.
