At its meeting on Tuesday 9 April 2024, Council considered a report including community feedback and made the following decision:

That Council adopt the Good Neighbour Policy, subject to the following amendments:

a) 1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to support the community’s live music venues, licensed premises, creative spaces, sporting clubs and commercial businesses by providing them with assurance that the Council takes a balanced approach to the coexistence of residents and businesses and will seek to keep premises operating wherever possible.

The policy specifically excludes construction businesses and the Development Assessment process as these have their own legal mechanisms and requirements that sit outside this policy.

The policy identifies the role of all stakeholders, such as residents, businesses, Council, and the Police in managing sound and activity in an urban environment as well as outline Council’s approach to amicably resolving these matters prior to taking any formal regulatory action.

b) 5. Objectives

Objective 3 – Compliance

Implement a consistent and adaptable regulatory response to manage amenity expectations

c) 6.1 Steps to take before lodging a formal complaint

2. Resolutions may involve minor changes to the premises operation such as closing certain windows and doors, lowering volume or advising a resident of when the entertainment is due to cease.

d) 6.2, as paragraph 3 add

If in the course of resolving a sound and activity management matter, Council officers become aware of other compliance issues the premises should be supported to keep operating as normal with a view to a coordinated approach in resolving all matters.

e) Replace all references to “noise disturbance”, “complaints” and “complaint handling” with language that references “sound and activity management” and note that the Director, Planning has delegated authority under clause 8 to make administrative changes to the policy that would make this language grammatically consistent and readable.