Hotels find ally in fun police fight

Live music will be saved under a bold new policy aimed at preventing pubs from being hit with hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and court costs after a noise complaint.

A drive by Leichhardt mayor Darcy Byrne will propose a new "good neighbour" policy at the council next week to stop the fun police closing down Sydney music institutions with hefty fines and litigation.

Instead of the prosecution of venues, the policy seeks regular meetings between licensees and residents.

Matt Rule had to shut the Annandale Hotel after debts caused by noise complaints became to great.

The push comes as receivers Ferrier Hodgson moved in yesterday to take control of the Annandale Hotel, one of Sydney's biggest backers of live music.

While the hotel will remain open in the short-term, the live music scene has been slowly dying across Sydney through a combination of hoteliers replacing stages with poker machines and noise complaints by neighbours.

"The Annandale Hotel going into receivership must be a turning point for live music in Sydney," Mr Byrne said.

"It is time to draw a line in the sand and put an end to local government's attacks on the music industry.

"Councils have to overturn their current policy, which is to prosecute, and the only way that will happen is for young people and musicians to stand up and demand an end to this madness."

Mr Byrne said he was calling on young people to pressure his council to make the change at its meeting next week. "It will put an end to Leichhardt Council taking action against live music avenues. At the moment, a neighbour complains, the council sends out rangers and it ends up in court," he said.

"This is the most comprehensive way we can stop councils killing live music and revive the industry in Sydney before it's too late."

The new policy seeks to give greater protection to longstanding venues against newly arrived neighbours making complaints and will see council cultural staff consulted about noise complaints prior to compliance action.

It will also involve the council liaising with music industry peak bodies and the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing before initiating legal action.

Sydney City Council has launched a live music taskforce in a bid to revive the dying live music scene.

Councillor Linda Scott, who campaigned for the council's new taskforce to bring more live music and performances in inner-city Sydney, said she wanted "to bring the fun back to Sydney". "After many years of neglect, I want to see Sydney as a place known for its high-quality live music and performances, and as a nursery for new local acts," she said.

"Live music is something which brings people together in a special way. There's a long history of great live music in Sydney and many artists cutting their teeth on the scene, but unfortunately today much of this has disappeared as venues close and opportunities for performances decrease."

Source: The Daily Telegraph, 19 February 2013