The ACT Government has introduced new Noise Standards in the City Centre Entertainment Precinct, allowing for louder entertainment noise levels from venues on some days.
Tara Cheyne, Minister for the Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, said: “The new Noise Standards for the City Centre Entertainment Precinct will give aspiring and existing venues and artists the confidence to operate and perform.”
Current noise standards are:
| Location | Time and day period | Noise Standard |
| City Centre | Monday to Thursday: 7am-10 pm Friday and Saturday: 7 am-midnight Sunday and Public Holidays: 8 am-10 pm. | 60 dB(A) |
| All other times | 50 dB(A) | |
| City Hill Precinct | Monday to Saturday: 7am-10 pm Sunday and Public Holidays: 8 am-10 pm. | 60 dB(A) |
| All other times | 50 db(A) |
The new Noise Standards are:
| Location | Time and day period | Noise Standard |
| CCEP Core | Sunday to Wednesday, Public Holidays: 10 am – 11 pm Thursday to Saturday: 10 am – 1am | 75 dB(A) 90 dB(C) |
| All other times: | 60 dB(A) 75 dB(C) | |
| CCEP Frame | Sunday to Wednesday, Public Holidays: 10 am -11 pm Thursday to Saturday: 10 am – 1 am | 65 dB(A) 80 dB(C) |
| All other times: | 55 dB(A) 70 dB(C) |
The new Noise Standards will only apply to entertainment noise generated from places other than residential dwellings within the CCEP. More stringent noise settings will be retained for construction noise, plant and equipment, machinery, and residential noise in the CCEP.
A low frequency Noise Standard reflects the low frequency noise associated with amplified music.
Thursday is included as part of the weekend, and ‘all other times’ have been extended to 10 am for all days of the week (rather than 7 am or 8 am as per current settings) for quieter mornings.
Chris Gatfield, general manager of the Australian Hotels Association ACT, congratulated the government on the new noise standards, which he believes will encourage more people to enjoy live music in venues.
“The reality is that fun isn’t silent. These reforms recognise that if people move next door to a pub or a bar in a vibrant night-time precinct, they should expect a certain level of sound that comes with that. As our night-time economy continues to grow, we want Canberrans and tourists to get out after dark and enjoy our award-winning pubs, bars, and restaurants.”
Musicians will also be able to get free permits to use loading zones for half an hour to unload equipment, during a 12-month trial.
David Caffery, president of MusicACT, called the policy package “a turning point in the cultural development of Canberra”.
“Our young city is growing up. No longer is the city reserved for daytime shopping and meetings: soon, the heart of our city will beat with music.”
In his opinion, the reforms are a much-needed boost for the music industry, which has struggled during the pandemic.
“Covid and this economic winter has been hard on our industry, but today is a welcome sign of hope.”
He was confident that Canberra’s nightlife would become more vibrant, and urged musicians and audiences to “start planning events, buy tickets, get your friends together”.
The new noise standards are part of a suite of reforms that include longer trading hours and reduced licencing fees for smaller licenced restaurants and cafés and venues that support live music.
