Modification 8 Changes to Concert Restrictions

Concerts held at Allianz Stadium create an enormous nuisance for surrounding suburbs. The noise travels long distances. We are in Randwick and our children cannot sleep when concerts are on. Many families and shift workers live in surrounding suburbs - this is a residential area not a commercial/industrial zone. The NSW Government allowing further disruption to the sleep and therefore the lives of many families and workers would be unacceptable and negligent, and the political backlash would be significant.

1. Broadly speaking, there is very little for the local community except downside.

Of course the proposal is essentially finding a use for a multibillion dollar stadium which was not recommended by any studies, but was commissioned seemingly for political reasons, and which government now needs to justify with increased activity.

The reality is that the local community will be forced to wear the additional functions which will be added to the new facility to justify its cost. As ever, the local community will suffer from increased and unreasonable noise and unmanaged additional traffic. .

2. Specifically, Increasing the concert cap from 6 to 20 per year means that we go from having a loud, late concert once every couple of months, to one nearly every fortnight.

It is unacceptable that the local community be the unwilling recipient of noise and increased traffic to that extent.

3. Not only will the concerts be more frequent, but they will be longer. Ten hours for a concert sounds like a nightmare of sustained and intrusive noise. Bass reverberations are hellish in built up areas with a lot of masonry.

Local experience of the entities that control the various stadia and local parklands is that they have no interest in the local community and do not respond in any meaningful way to complaints raised either at the time of concerts or before or after them.

4. Finish times for concerts and for sound tests (which often take place on the preceding day) will now continue until 10.00pm. This is a serious inconvenience for people with children, shift workers or those that sleep earlier than 10.00pm.

5. The Mardi Gras after party is most objectionable with no curfew at all. It really is the last word in the “suck it up and be happy” approach to the local community. It will also be the thin end of the wedge with, undoubtedly, more “must have” events without restriction or other restraints.

To repeat, this proposal will affect the local community unreasonably and detrimentally. It is unfair, unacceptable and will diminish the quality of life for those living around the facility. It should be rejected totally.

Michelle Prasad
West Ryde
Does not agree with increasing the cap on concerts at Allianz stadium.
Football (soccer) is the least funded and the most popular sport in Australia, please do not take away our games from our home also.
increase the concerts at Olympic Park - not at Moore Park. it is simply wasting a perfectly good sporting facility.
I hold a full membership for Sydney FC and hold it because the ground is our home and prefer to travel there and back for games.
Thank you
Michelle Prasad
West Ryde

The proposal will bring chaos, noise and bad behaviour to the surrounding suburbs. These types of events do not always bring business to our local restaurants or bars.

This area is full of families, young children and dogs... We are sick of having to worry about our dogs eating litter off the ground and stepping on broken glass. The noise is already out of control from local parties

I believe that this process to make a submission has been deliberately made difficult to deter that process. I presume that this is the correct place to comment regarding the proposal to increase the number of concerts at the Allianz stadium, although it is well hidden in the description. I live at the southern end of Cottenham Ave and can attest that when concerts are held there, the volume is quite annoying, even inside my home with the windows closed. Between my home and the stadium there are nursing homes and retirement villages and nearby is a major hospital. There are many families with small children and many elderly people. There are also many students accommodated within the University precinct and locally. All suffer from this noise pollution. Move the concerts to Homebush which is more appropriate. The proposal to even extend rehearsals to late is intolerable as the essentially doubles the number of noise events. Do not pretend that this noise assault benefits the residents, it just benefits the SCG/Allianze stadium and the promoters. If this proposal goes ahead, it will not be forgotten at the next ballot box.

The parking and traffic conditions in this precinct are already at bottleneck, traffic congestion is at a standstill due to existing Venues-The Stadium,SCG, Centennial and Moore Parks, Moore Park Golf Course and Randwick Racecourse. Traffic congestion already impedes the flow of Emergency Services. The existing cap was understood and promised by SCG Trust. EQ lessee has recently announced it will seek extension of lease to redevelop, spending $billions. Centennial Park is consistently expanding its "user pay" activities to enable it to self fund.There must be a wholistic approach to the entire precinct, including traffic flow and pedestrian services, a futuristic plan that includes all aspects of urban living for the entire precinct BEFORE adding any more events

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.

I partially object the project and it needs amendments to take into account that this is a family neighbourhood. Many of us living here have small children. We love the vibrancy that visitors bring to the area and understand that this supports local businesses. As a result, I am generally in support of change that bring a positive net effect.

Object
1. Sound testing and rehearsal past 7 pm provides no additional benefit to the area and has a net negative effect due to late noise disturbances (when children are sleeping). This is unnecessary and concert organisers must be capable of scheduling their sound testing to day time. It is just a logistical task for them to manage.

Modify
2. Increase the concert cap from 6 to 20 per year increase - that is an increase of over 200% to more than 1 concert per month. I would personally in support of a 50% increase to 9 per year, which seems an adequate compromise with the community.

Object
3. Increase concert length from 5 hours to 10 hours to allow for ‘Live Aid’ style events: I do not think these long event attract the kind of visitors we want in our quirky Surry Hills neighbourhood. Also, people visiting 10 hour concerts will not spend additionally with local businesses as they will spend their whole day there. I anticipate a lot of drunkenness and rowdiness from patrons of these events and I don't think this is in line with our neighbourhood.

Support
4. Include an exemption to the concert curfew to allow the SFS to host the annual official Mardi Gras after-party: I am in support of this once a year during Mardi Gras as the entire neighbourhood is one big party during this time anyway and the location very much suits the event.

I fully support this project. This will bring much needed diversity (music/concerts, not just sporting events) to this vibrant part of the city. I reject neighbourhood complaints or NIMBYism -- these valuable venues are for all Sydneysiders. I accept that careful management of crowds and public safety should be prioritised.

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.

The additional developments are not supported by sufficient surrounding infrastructure and will cause:
- additional noise and pollution
- interfering with the normal enjoyment of one’s home
- impact the daily lives of residents including young children through additional traffic impacting access to property and time spent stuck in traffic
- current surrounding roads are not sufficient to deal with surges in traffic as proposed. Without this first being resolved it makes no sense to have such a material change in capacity and number of events.

We strongly oppose the proposed development.

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

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,
Cook Road Private Resident

Despite the assurances from the protagonists that these modifications are "modest", and necessary to enhance the State's economy, I conclude that they are primarily interested in profit, at the expense of the local residents and small businesses. If Other cities are vying for noisy concerts, then they are welcome to them.

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.

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 am pleased to extend my strong support for the proposed modifications, which reflect a well-considered approach to enhancing our community's cultural experiences. The suggestion to increase the concert cap from 6 to 20 per year signifies a dynamic shift towards a more vibrant and diverse entertainment scene, fostering a sense of inclusivity and catering to a wider range of interests.

Furthermore, the proposal to extend the concert length to 10 hours, twice a year, demonstrates a commitment to providing patrons with more comprehensive and immersive musical experiences. This not only allows for a greater variety of performances within a single event but also encourages more extensive artist collaborations and thematic presentations.

The adjustment of rehearsal and sound test finish times from 7pm to 10pm is a pragmatic move that acknowledges the creative process's intricacies. Allowing artists and technical teams more time to fine-tune their productions ensures the highest quality performances, contributing to an overall more satisfying concert experience.

Lastly, the provision of a curfew exemption for Mardi Gras highlights a commendable recognition of the cultural significance and unique nature of this event. It affirms our commitment to celebrating diversity and promoting an environment where different forms of artistic expression are nurtured and celebrated.

In summary, the proposed modifications signify a progressive and forward-thinking approach to enriching our cultural landscape. By expanding the concert cap, extending performance durations, accommodating creative processes, and honoring significant cultural events, we pave the way for a more engaging and inclusive community experience.

I am in complete support of the proposed changes for increasing the:
Concert cap from 6 per year to 20 per year.
Concert length from 5 hours to 10 hours (twice a year).
Alternate rehearsal and sound test finish time from 7pm to 10pm.
Curfew exemption for Mardi Gras.

I believe these changes are necessary for:

Sydney to remain a go to city for major concerts and other events.
Ensuring the stadium is utilised as much as possible, especially since it recently got demolished and rebuilt.
Helping Sydney rebuild its economy, especially its nighttime economy as well as improving the economy around the stadium.