Residents and business owners in a reinvigorated precinct have received a groundswell of support after launching a petition to save its live music scene.
Noosa Junction Association (NJA) initiated the petition in support of its hospitality venues and musicians that help activate the street and contribute to the local economy.
It was launched in response to a separate petition calling on a limit to the precinct’s nightlife.
Over the past decade Noosa Junction has had a new lease of life, making the former business centre a popular place for locals and visitors during the day and night.
Many venues and events like regular twilight markets are now offering live music to patrons, which has created a social atmosphere of food and culture for families, bar-hoppers and theatre-goers.
While the activation of the hub has largely been praised, there has been backlash from some nearby residents who have compared Noosa Junction to the Gold Coast.
A petition started by Peter Stuehrenberg seeks to stop Noosa Junction from becoming a “seven-day nightlife hub”.
The petition, which has more than 360 signatures, refers to a proposed change related to business and entertainment activities within the Noosa Plan 2020.
Between May and July this year, residents were invited to have their say after Noosa Council proposed a raft of amendments to the current planning scheme.
One proposed amendment was to permit food and drink outlets within the Noosa Junction Hospitality Precinct to operate until midnight, seven days per week.
Currently food and drink outlets within the precinct can only operate until midnight on Friday and Saturday, and until 10pm Sunday to Thursday.
In the petition, Mr Stuehrenberg stated that nearby residents already experienced “extensive noise nuisance” and that there was a “complete lack of clarity on provisions for music and entertainment” as part of the amendment.
He stated venues operating until midnight would have a negative impact on the wellbeing of residents and noise levels would become “unbearable”.
NJA has since hit back at this petition and launched a counter-argument in support of live music at venues.
The ‘Save our music. Save our nightlife. Don’t let the lights go out in Noosa Junction’ petition already has more than 5230 signatures.
Petition organiser and NJA marketing manager Judi Lalor said live music was the “beating heart” of the precinct, supporting the nighttime economy and local jobs.
She said current licensing was “out of date” and that the petition was striving for a “balanced approach” for the livelihoods of businesses, musicians and nearby residents.
She told Sunshine Coast News the support for live music had been overwhelming.
“(The petition signatures are) still going up and I think what that shows is that we do have the support of the local community,” she said.
“It gives us a platform to gauge support. We are advocating for change, and this is the first step.
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. Some of the regulations may be out of date and not suit some of the businesses we have in the Junction now.
“Music is a really important part of the precinct and bringing people together.
“Everybody’s worked really hard to have an activated precinct and nightlife, and have locals and visitors come to the area to enjoy it.”
Ms Lalor referred to the Nambour Special Entertainment Precinct as an example of what can be achieved with the right support and collaborations.
She said the next step was to meet with councillors, other decision-making stakeholders and the newly appointed Queensland Night-Life Economy Commissioner John Collins.
“Our aim would be to create an acceptable model that works in Noosa Junction and a trial that businesses, council and key stakeholders agree to,” Ms Lalor said.
According to a Proposed Amendment No.2 fact sheet, Noosa Council’s proposed changes were focused on venue opening hours for the precinct, which incorporates Sunshine Beach Road and Lanyana Way.
The only reference to music was a proposal to incorporate new performance outcomes and acceptable outcomes for acoustic and amplified music.
Specific rules around amplified music noise requirements are determined via liquor licensing, granted under the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR).
Noosa mayor Frank Wilkie said the council supported live music in Noosa Junction and residents’ rights to peace in their homes at a reasonable hour.
“Live music is intended to give entertainment, energy and life to Noosa Junction in a way that does not unreasonably impact on the surrounding residents,” Cr Wilkie said.
“We’re committed to the challenge of finding the right balance here and will be taking advice from musicians, residents and business owners.
“Councillors and staff will be having a briefing from OLGR staff to get an understanding of the causes of the recent action and how we can help strike the right balance.”
Noosa Council is currently analysing the feedback from its Proposed Amendment No.2 to Noosa Plan 2020.
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