As anyone in Noosa Junction can tell you, there’s a precarious and evolving balance between residents and those who head there to socialise and listen to live music.  It’s an issue to be grappled with in entertainment precincts everywhere, but here it’s perhaps even more delicate and complex in a place surrounded by residents who have long fought for their environment and lifestyle.

Much of the Sunshine Coast is envious about Noosa Junction, according to a University of the Sunshine Coast researcher.

Lenny Vance – who is also a musician in a regular duo gig at a Noosa resort – joined with a couple of his colleagues in the uni’s School of Business and Creative Industries faculty to gain research funding and study the live entertainment scene on the Coast following Covid-19’s devastating impact in 2020/21.

Working initially with Sunshine Coast Council, then Noosa Council, the group sought to discover what the issues are in encouraging yet managing live music.

He said they started out interviewing business operators, “then consumer and visitor research”.

With Noosa, the emphasis was on the Junction, which Dr Vance regards as a place with distinct advantages and a well-developed village community structure.

“What occurred to us as researchers is that Noosa Junction was a really good example of a precinct that evolved out of local businesses getting together without any government assistance – doing it off their own bat, with activation of a great space for local socialisation,” Dr Vance said.

“It’s quite a success story to point to, where locals congregate there, enjoying it as an alternative to Hastings St, and even the real estates and tourism marketers are branding it as ‘where the locals go’ and giving it some real vibe.”

But the Junction is not without its conflicts, partly because “we got to know it quite well, then issues started bubbling up with residents complaining about noise”.

“The Office of Liquor and Gaming Registration (OLGR) sent cease-and-desist letters to venues, and I was asked if I could help with the issue of socialising of the precinct, job creation and how to balance issues in terms of resident amenity,” Dr Vance said.

“We put a trial together late last year: [Noosa] council was initially supportive, but with money issues, they’ve disengaged for now.”

Councillors discussed the Junction problems in the July round of meetings and will maintain a watching brief on it for now.

There are numerous stakeholders involved: commercial property owners and lessees/venue operators; Noosa Junction Association; musicians; and local residents.

“We definitely need places for casual socialisation [like Noosa Junction].”

“Because of the spread-out nature of the Sunshine Coast, the best way is to provide the ability for each village to operate under reasonable governance that doesn’t impact too much on local residents.

“But current governance is really restrictive: if one person complains [about live music], OLGR is obliged to act and enforce what are probably unrealistic constraints on venues in terms of set levels of sound noise.

“Currently the sound limit for these small venues is 75 decibels – measured three metres from the source of the music.

“I can sing acoustically louder than that.”

_{Dr Lenny Vance.}

‘Live music’ in the Junction generally refers to a soloist or duo playing acoustically or with limited amplification – and performers/amplification placed well away from the open verandahs. Larger bands play elsewhere.”

“We would advocate for changes in the regulatory framework; it’s very muddy between the state’s OLGR and local government planning schemes,” Dr Vance said.

“The new state government has a mandate to cut this type of red tape, and is aware of these issues.

And OLGR recently put out a survey asking for feedback on their current governance – so I feel we have a once-in-a-decade opportunity to effect change on the Coast to allow reasonable use of casual dining spaces that suits our climate and shifting demographics, and isn’t restricted by some people who say ‘8 o’clock, lights out’.”

If the go-ahead had been given for the proposed seven-storey residential/retail development across Lanyana Way and Sunshine Beach Rd, the onus would have been on the developer to ensure adequate soundproofing, Dr Vance said.

“That’s what happened in places like London, to ensure residents you’re bringing to ensure they’re not affected,” he said.

How the Order of Occupancy comes into it.

“There is now [what’s called] the Order of Occupancy, that has been applied in many places around the world.

“[Under it] if someone buys into the space, it’s buyer beware, but if someone has lived there 30 years and a nightclub opens next door, that’s a good case. It’s about finding balance.

“I reached out to Noosa Council to say ‘I’m still here and happy to help, advise, run tests. I have to say they’re very keen but have just got to work through their bureaucratic process and go through the minefield of keeping the community happy.”

Ensuring venues are fit-for-purpose is important – and expensive. But an open back door of a venue, or a breeze can have a big impact on noise reaching residents, as well as from unruly patrons leaving the premises.

“The current framework is based on licence legislation created for Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley precinct – which is fine for nightclubs – but here, it’s about a couple of acoustic guitarists in a small dining space.

“And the cost for sound-managing a 50-60 seat restaurant is prohibitive.”

“That’s where the pain point is at this time. We’re suggesting that rather than saying a venue has to comply with sound inside venue, it should be measured by what it is outside.”

“A diesel bus or Harley-Davidson motorbike going past makes far more noise than a guitar player does – so it should be: ‘Is the noise emanating from the precinct too much for residents, coming from other than a venue?”

“That would tend to deal with some of the vexatious complaints. Remember, if you choose to live in a tourist area (Noosa Junction is in the centre of urban ‘Noosa’) you have to accept tourists are going to come.”

“Every village needs three things: a place to sleep; a place to work; a place to socialise.”

“Resilient communities have them working in cohesion – and that’s not happening [in the Junction], to the detriment of the hospitality economy which makes up nearly 30% of our economy on the Sunshine Coast.

“Many people come here to set up business, but find it too hard. They get here, then it’s ’What do you mean I can’t book a restaurant seat after 8 o’clock – we didn’t go out until 8.30 in Melbourne’.”

Disclosure: Alan Lander is drummer and business manager with five-piece Noosa-based band The Claptomaniacs.

_{(main picture – Visit Noosa Junction. Julie Delmar)}