Modification 7 Changes to Concert Restrictions

The Sydney Football Stadium's existence already adversely affects the precinct. The traffic congestion and parking, pedestrian flow and access of emergency services all indicate the need for a wholistic plan for the precinct. The precinct includes many highly used venues- The Stadium, Centennial Park, Moore Park, Moore Park Golf, Randwick Racecourse, Toll house Wellness Centre and two major hospitals plus University.
A plan for the future development and traffic flow of the precinct should be undertaken BEFORE any more developments or activities are approved.

We object to the Changes to Concert Restrictions (SSD-9249-Mod 7) and SSD9835-(Mod-8) because of the following:
The number of concerts per year that would take place at the Sydney Football Stadium was previously agreed to at 4. The proposed increase is 500%, an excessive hike which has not been properly canvassed with local residents. This increase doesn’t consider that there are many other events at the Stadium that means local residents would be disturbed many times a week, every week. This would be an intolerable burden on the locals.
Sound
The increase in noise would be great, including all the sound checks and rehearsals in addition to the actual concerts. At a minimum, residents would need an “in-time’ ability to complain when noise exceeds the limits – which it has often done.
Traffic
The traffic around the stadium is already large and congested on sports days. The traffic around the Stadium would increase markedly with the extra concerts. The plan assumes people will take public transport, but that is just an assumption and wish.
Parking
We witness regular illegal parking in the area especially on event days. People regularly exceed the1 hour restriction in the area. There is very minimal [policing of this by Council Rangers. When concerts have appealed to teenagers, several adjacent streets have been occupied by double-parking parents, hire cars and friends of concert goers. These occurrences have the effects of blocking streets to all. This is regularly not policed.
In the past police and security guards were deployed to manage traffic and access at the bottom of Regent Street. This proposal does not address the traffic and parking issues adequately. If this intolerable increase should go ahead, the surrounding streets need to be resident access only.
Behaviour
As people leave the concerts and events walking along Regent and other streets , they are often badly behaved. Sometimes drunk, sometimes vandalising local gardens and so on. This plan would increase substantially the flow of pedestrian traffic through local streets with noise and potential damage such as walking over Council gardens.
This plan provides wishes rather than strategies, and displays a callous disregard for the amenity of residents of Paddington, who have as many rights to have their needs met as the concert goers do.

I live very close to the stadium and am used to events taking place there, so I am well placed to comment on the effects of increasing numbers of concerts at this venue. I think an increase in the number of concerts will only benefit this area. It will increase visitor numbers and so help local pubs, restaurants, shops, hotels and owners of other forms of temporary accommodation such as Airbnb (I don't host Airbnb myself!). It will generally add to a buzzy atmosphere and proper city life. I welcome having large concerts in an area with lots of public transport and amenities, close to the city centre, instead of having large concerts at the Olympic Park, which is too far to travel to and has poor transport and amenities. The only thing I would ask for is that the venue should be responsible for rubbish, and should greatly increase the number of garbage bins near the stadium. I think the venue and concert promoters, not the City of Sydney should be responsible for this.

While I have no issue with the proposal in principle, it needs to consider the wider issues at play.
My concern with the project is in regards to
1. access to my home by car. A current proposal for a bike lane on Oxford street proposes to limit or stop access to my home from Oxford street by ceasing right turns into area 13 Paddington. This leaves the only way to access my house (and all the other houses in this pocket of Paddington) from Moore park road. There are already multiple games and concerts which greatly increase traffic and at times close sections of moore park road. This was understood by residents, but there was alternate access options. Increasing concerts without allowing access to this section of Paddington from Oxford street is a major detriment to resident amenity. Once again, I have no issue with the bike lane project in principle, but resident access must be retained.
2. Illegal parking during events. I have had my driveway blocked during events and there are insufficient response from council (rangers etc) to do anything about it leading to residents unable to access/egress from our property.

While I understand the above concerns are in the area of Sydney City Council, they still need to be considered in this case. It is not acceptable to just push the problem to council, this does not address the issue. Thanks.

I support this project. This is a much better use of the facility rather than having it under utilised. Any issues with perceived noise for neighbours can be managed through proper policing, depending on the type of crowd attracted by the each music act. This should go a significant way to helping Sydney achieve a 'world class', tier 1 city status.

Our concern is the increased car parking on Moore Park Road and surrounding streets when events are held at the stadium. Given our close proximity to the stadium and that we do not have any off street parking on our property, we are directly affected by the proposed increase in events. Although the street parking is the area surrounding the stadium is one hour parking from 8am to 10pm daily, this is rarely enforced by the local council - City of Sydney. I have made several complaints in the past to Council when sporting and concerts have been on at the stadium because people attending these events have clearly parked on the surrounding streets like Moore Park Rd (either knowing council does not enforce the parking rules or are willing to take the gamble) and they leave their car parked there for hours, sometimes overnight and do not receive a fine. As a resident, there have been times, such as when Elton John performed at the stadium, where I could not park anywhere. I had to sit in my car for an hour and a half with my newborn baby until a spot became available. We purchased our property on the basis that parking was 1 hour between 8am - 10pm daily, but because City of Sydney have failed to enforce this, we have been left many times with no parking. Furthermore, when events such as concerts have been held at the stadium, and large crowds have attended, planning of crowd control has been poor. There is not sufficient infrastructure within close enough proximity to the stadium to cater for large crowds and that is evident when the event ends and crowds of people end up walking on the roads, hailing taxi's and Ubers in the middle of the street and causing traffic congestion. The organisation for the few concerts that have been held since the opening of the new stadium have been inadequate and so I object to the increase in events at the stadium.

I have lived in Charles Street, Redfern, NSW 2016 for 15 years.

As the crow flies my house is about 1 km from the Sydney Football Stadium (SFS). Charles Street is connected to Moore Park via a wide level pedestrian walkway directly from the end of Charles Street to Moore Park.

Sound from the SFS travels more or less unimpeded across the park land to the SW of the SFS, across the main junction of Anzac Parade and Cleveland Street, across Moore Park, across the pedestrian walkway and is then funnelled down Charles Street. The effect is particularly pronounced on clear still days.

These acoustic effects are so great that during the Elton John concert on 17 January 2023, from my living room with all doors and windows closed, I could hear every word Elton John said on stage and it was like the music was playing full volume in my neighbour’s house. I was not able to listen to my TV in my own house.

Accordingly, I raised a noise complaint directly to Allianz Stadium. I followed up with the EPA and was informed that the noise complaint was investigated by the stadium however it did not breach noise requirements which I find incredulous.

With this in mind I wish to strongly object to the proposals outlined in the submission to increase the frequency and length of concerts to be held at SFS as well as the proposed exemption to the concert curfew for the Mardi Gras after party.

I note that the application makes reference to the site being used for sporting events for many years however there is a marked distinction between noise from a sporting event and noise from a concert, the latter having amplified music and sound. Whilst over the years I have noticed some noise from sporting events this has generally been limited to sporadic crowd cheering and does not generally interrupt my peaceful enjoyment of my own home and I have never had cause to make any official complaint.

On the other hand, noise from concerts or dance parties from the Horden Pavilion, Moore Park Entertainment Quarter (Watsons EQ) and more recently SFS has had an ongoing and detrimental impact on my ability to peacefully enjoy my own home and to sleep at night.

I have had cause to complain to the EPA, police, Centennial Park rangers, and Moore Park Entertainment Centre in the past on several occasions, mainly in relation to noise after curfew. In all instances I have never received a satisfactory response and to my knowledge no action has ever been taken with the various authorities claiming that they are unable to act as it’s not within their jurisdiction.

This proposal will only make these issues worse and I fear for my mental health and well-being if I have to additionally put up with noise from 20 concerts and associated rehearsals held at SFS each year.

It’s clear to me that the current noise restrictions are too lenient and that self-monitoring does not work as evidences by the number of exceedances/breaches reported, and are not policed sufficiently by independent parties. Residents are suffering in silence as they have no recourse to any action being taken so quoting a low of number of complaints to justify an increase should not be a valid reason for proceeding.

Whilst I recognise the proposed new real time noise monitoring, I assume this will be self-policed and hence is flawed.

What is really needed here is for:

• Current noise limits to be reduced significantly;
• acoustic barriers to be installed at strategic positions across the parklands, including junction Anzac Parade and Cleveland Street and in Moore Park opposite the pedestrian walkway to Charles Street; and
• a universal independent hotline is established for complaints to be managed centrally (to cover SFS, SCG, Hordan Pavillion and Sydney Entertainment Quarter) and for hotline staff to manage the engagement with the appropriate agency to take appropriate action rather than leaving complainants to find a pathway through the bureaucracy which currently may not even exist.

Concerts are loud and disruptive to the normal enjoyment of a residence, particularly with young children and goes against appeal of the local area being near Centennial Park.
Increasing the number of concerts from 6 to 20 is close to a concert once every fortnight - and a large proportion of time spent at home typically on weekends, adds traffic and makes it harder to access the home.
We strongly oppose the proposed amendment.

I am a local Paddington resident living very close to Sydney Football Stadium in Stewart Street. I attend many events at the Stadium. Given the significant investment of public funds into this fantastic new stadium I support the proposition to increase its concert cap for the following reason:
1. The stadium is a world class facility and is under currently utilised for concerts. There are few acts that can fill Stadium Australia and that is a less convenient location for many Sydney residents. Travel options are poor. Sydney will become a stronger city and attract more world class talent if SFS is utilized more often due to its proximity to the CBD and better transport options (Central Station/Buses)
2. Creating Employment. The SFS creates a great deal of employment through holding events for casual hospitality staff, suppliers and venue employees and more events mean more work
3. Stimulating the Paddington economy and support local venues. Concerts and games at SFS bring large numbers of people into the area who visit and spend money at the many local Paddington hospitality venues (pubs abd restaurants) especially on Oxford Street. This not only creates essential income to maintain the viability of these venues but creates a strong local buzz and atmosphere on Oxford Street. This benefits the City of Sydney, Paddington and the local residents as well as the vistors that use the venues before an after events.
4. The noise from the Stadium from concerts does not bother me nd is no worse than the crowd noise from a Sydney Swans game in my experience.
5. In order that parking does not become a problem City Of Sydney needs to grant local residnents AREA 13 parking permits more readily than present. I have lived at my current address for 11 years and used to have two permits by now can only get one.
6. Current restrictions on the 4 concert cap are archaic and need to be modernized.

The current venue is a sporting venue and has always been a sporting venue- with minimal concerts and events. the Noise levels- parking nightmare and real lack of local amenities- audiences make extending the hours and operations of this venue really impactful to the local area. if the government had wanted to this do- then the new development should of had a roof and actually been build as a concert and music entertainment facility- not just a sporting venue and part time theatre! Amplified music is very different to the cheers of a crowd- while the noice in sound checks- set up- is a very very different structure. the Darling Harbour facility has the right loading and unloading zones for heavy equipment and containers- not the SCG

I would like to see a trial of suggested concert cap being lifted for 2 years and then a reallocation of community suggestions based on experience

APPLICATION SSD-9249-Mod7 and SSD-9835-Mod8
Dear Director of Social and Infrastructure Assessments,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing as a concerned mother and an active member of our local community regarding the proposed modifications to the planning controls for the Sydney Football Stadium. I wish to express my strong and unequivocal objection to all four proposed modifications to the development consent.
As a resident who deeply cares about the well-being of our community and the future of our children, I firmly oppose the following proposed modifications:
Increase in Concert Frequency and Duration:
The proposed increase in the number of concerts from 6 events per year to 20 events per year, with extended durations of up to 10 hours, is a significant concern. This change has the potential to disrupt our children's sleep routines, affecting their physical and emotional well-being. Adequate sleep is crucial for their growth and development, and I believe this modification would compromise their quality of life.
Rehearsal and Sound Test Finish Times:
Extending the rehearsal and sound test finish times from 7 pm to 10 pm is deeply troubling. These later hours would disrupt our family's evening routines and potentially disturb the tranquillity of our neighbourhood. As a mother, I am committed to providing my children with a peaceful and nurturing environment, and I believe this proposed change threatens that environment.
Exemption to Concert Curfew for Mardi Gras:
While I understand the cultural significance of events like the Mardi Gras, I firmly object to granting an exemption to the concert curfew of 11 pm. Our community includes families with young children who require adequate sleep. Such an exemption could negatively impact their well-being.
Parking and Congestion Concerns:
The recent congestion and parking challenges experienced during the Women's World Cup are indicative of the potential problems that could arise with the proposed modifications. Despite 1-to-2-hour parking restrictions, the parking is often unavailable to residents during events. Non-residents parking for hours at a time at these times and there are inadequate inspections by parking inspectors to stop this occurring. The increased number of events and visitors could lead to even greater congestion, reduced accessibility, and safety concerns for our children.

Furthermore, I would like to highlight that our community is already affected by noise and concerts in Centennial Park. This additional burden would compound the challenges we are currently facing. The cumulative impact of noise from multiple sources can significantly disrupt our family's peace and tranquillity, creating an environment that is less conducive to our children's well-being and overall happiness.
I want to emphasize that my objection is not against cultural events or progress, but rather a plea to prioritize the well-being and safety of our community members, particularly our children. I strongly urge you to reconsider these modifications and take into account the potential negative impacts they may have on our neighbourhood.
Please be aware that my objection applies to all four proposed modifications to the development consent for the Sydney Football Stadium. I kindly request that my concerns be given the utmost consideration in the decision-making process.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I eagerly anticipate updates on the consultation process and any opportunities for community input.
Sincerely,
Private Resident (Cook Rd, Centennial Park)

The increase to the number of concerts each year is described as "modest". That is nonsense, as is much of the other economic justification. I simply don't believe it, and I don't care if other states or cities get the "acts". The Stadium promoters are naturally seeking to increase their corporate and personal profits and "standing".

As a resident of the neighbouring streets I strongly object to the proposed concert cap increase at Sydney Football Stadium. This would impinge our right to quiet enjoyment of the land due to a number of associated nuisances.

The first is the private nuisance associated with the noise not only from the concerts themselves, but from patrons leaving the stadium after the events. Upon leaving the stadium, thousands of concert goers flood the surrounding residential streets in order to reach public transportation services on Oxford Street, or to return to their vehicles parked (often illegally) in those streets.

This brings me to my second point, that inadequate parking services have been provided causing many attendees to park illegally in the neighbouring residential streets. This includes parking in no stopping zones, across driveways, and obstructing public footpaths. This represents not only an inconvenience for residents who are unable to find parking, but also a public nuisance due to the danger represented by blocking public footpaths and parking within 10m of intersections.

Given the current caps on the number of events held per annum these nuisances are both reasonable and tolerable. However, the proposed changes would more than triple the number of events allowable per year which represents an unreasonable increase. Furthermore, events may run for multiple nights as was the case for Bruno Mars, and for upcoming shows with Paul McCartney and Pink. This means that, when combined with sporting events, there could be multiple nights each week where these events are occurring.

As a result of the issues listed above, I am particularly opposed to proposed change 1 ‘increasing the number of concerts from 6 events per year to a maximum of 20 events per year’. The increased regularity with which these nuisances would be imposed on local residents is completely unreasonable.

I am not opposed to proposed change 2 ‘increasing the maximum length from 5 hours to 10 hours, twice per year’, and proposed change 3 ‘increasing rehearsal and sound test finish times from 7pm to 10pm’. These changes are perfectly reasonable and align to NSW noise restrictions in residential areas. I am also not opposed to proposed change 4 ‘addition of an exemption to the concert curfew (11pm) for the official Mardi Gras after-party’. This is assuming that this is an exception which would occur once per year, and not setting a precedent for other all night events to take place at the stadium. If these changes were put forward separately to the concert cap increase then I would be in support of the proposed modifications.

As it stands, I am strongly opposed to Modification 7 and Modification 8 due to the proposed increase to the concert cap.

I strongly object to the proposal to increase the number and duration of concerts held at the Sydney Football Stadium situated in the heart of our residential area. While I understand the importance of cultural events and entertainment opportunities for the community, I firmly believe that the proposed increase in the frequency of loud concerts is beyond reasonable, and will have a multiple negative impacts on the quality of life for residents and the overall liveability of what remains a residential neighborhood.

Paddington has long been a peaceful and harmonious place to live, fostering a sense of community which is ruined by loud concerts, and delivers a range of negative effects:

Noise Pollution: Concerts held at the Stadium produce excessive intrusive noise levels that invade our houses and gardens, increase our stress levels, and hinder daily activities. The stadium was built without a roof for cost reasons, but in hosting loud concerts the real cost is borne by the locals. Try hosting a BBQ in the back yard, or even reading a book while there is a concert on next door.

Traffic Congestion and Safety Concerns: Despite available public transport the concerts encourage thousands of cars into the arae, looking fora parking spot, making our streets congested and overparked with concertgoers, and impossible for residents without garages to park anywhere near their homes , as well as endangering pedestrians, cyclists, and children in the vicinity.

Environmental Impact: The litter left behind in surrounding streets has adverse effects on the local environment, and often lays uncollected in the streets for days afterwards.

Disruption to Daily Life: The noise and commotion from concerts can disrupt residents' ability to work from home, concentrate, and engage in leisure activities. The continuous disturbances results in heightened stress and frustration among the community.

I urge the Department to carefully consider the potential repercussions of the proposed increase in number and duration of concerts at the Stadium. While cultural events are undoubtedly valuable to the community, striking a balance between entertainment and the well-being of residents is essential.

I kindly request that the Department:
i) Seek input from affected residents through community meetings, surveys, and open forums to ensure that their concerns and opinions are taken into account before making any decisions.

ii) Insist that the concerts use alternative venues such as Olympic Park which are better suited and set up for concerts, and reject this proposal.

In conclusion, I strongly object to the proposed increase in the frequency and duration of concerts at the local football stadium. I implore the Department to prioritize the well-being and comfort of the residents who call this area home. Your thoughtful consideration of these concerns will restore faith in the fairness of the planning processand display a genuine interest in maintaining the fabric of the local community.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I eagerly await your response.

Sincerely,
Mark Rosen

I object to the proposal to raise number of concerts per year due to the NSW government making no improvements to parking allowances, traffic management or noise management systems.
If the government wishes to hold more concerts it should have to provide suitable parking, police illegal parking, and adequately manage noise infringement on nearby residents, which it does not currently do with only 4 concerts per year. It would also need to allow for additional police to manage anti-social behavior, excessive traffic noise, and increased traffic.
Currently these services are poorly provided and concerts and sporting events gridlock the area creating difficult and delayed access to residential areas.
Increased concerts will increase the impact to residents to one approximately every 2 weeks, and infringe on their right to enjoy their home and area without impediment.

The proposed modifications are excellent, and I fully support them. This is just what Sydney needs to bounce back from the pandemic and restore events, nightlife, and Sydney's brand as a global city. I assume that local residents will complain, however I think that is on them - They shouldn't have moved next to one of the largest sporting stadiums in Australia if they didn't want any of the impacts. This will be so good for Greater Sydney as a whole, and have positive impacts on the local economies in surrounding areas like Paddington. Very proud to see the Government driving these proposed changes.

The Sydney Football Stadium is purpose built for playing SPORT. It is NOT SOUND proofed for concerts. If it was intended to stage concerts it should have been designed differently as an enclosed space - like the now demolished Darling Harbour Entertainment building. Increasing the number of concerts from 6 to 20 per year should not be allowed. Increasing the length of time of concerts and the length of rehearsal time should not be allowed. An exemption could be made for the offical Mardi Gras after-party.
The roar of the sport's crowd is a delight to hear. Amplification of music is a pain!

I wholeheartedly endorse the proposed amendment to the Concept Proposal approval, seeking to expand the number of concerts from 6 to a maximum of 20 events per year. This adjustment reflects a progressive step forward in our community's cultural landscape. I currently do not attend concerts out at Homebush as the inconvenience associated with accessing concerts there is too great, so my support for this expansion stems from the recognition of its broader significance to the city area.

The increased frequency of concerts has the potential to transform our region into a thriving hub of artistic expression and entertainment. This amendment aligns with the diverse tastes and preferences of our community, catering to a wider audience and fostering a more inclusive cultural environment. The economic benefits that may arise, including the boost in local businesses and tourism, further underscore the importance of this proposal.

I am pleased to express my support for this amendment, recognising its potential to enrich our cultural fabric. While my own concert attendance has been limited due to the logistical challenges or Homebush, I am particularly encouraged by the prospect of increased events held at Alianz, a venue I find more accessible. It is my belief that this expansion will not only accommodate different preferences but also provide greater opportunities for residents to engage with and appreciate the arts.