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The Western Australian contemporary music industry is thriving, with recent research showing venues are experiencing a surge in audience numbers, record retailers are selling more local music, and more Western Australian artists are being signed to overseas labels or releasing music outside of Australia than ever before.
Live original contemporary music is a key cultural activity that enriches our society, and the recent success of Western Australian musicians both nationally and internationally, has grown from this strong base of local live music venues.
If these venues close or are pressured to stop live performances, the cultural fabric of Western Australia’s live contemporary music industry will suffer.
Your role in its on-going development is crucial.
An increasing number of people are attracted to living in mixed use, culturally vibrant areas. This lifestyle choice affords many benefits, with cafes, restaurants, live music and entertainment facilities right on their doorstep.
The changing demographics in our inner-city and regional centers have placed a strong demand on amenity, presenting an increased risk of developing conflict.
In light of these issues, greater consideration is required at the initial planning stage, and in design and construction, to maintain an appropriate balance between activities, and residents’ need for reasonable amenity.
A recent survey suggests residents are willing to consider noise management issues where they live. Over two-thirds of respondents said that they would be willing to spend a bit more to insulate against noise when building or buying a new house.
After all, no one wants to destroy the very thing that attracts people to these areas.
It is important for a level of innovation and the highest standard or guideline to be applied for the appropriate situation. Merely applying the least stringent and cost saving solution is more likely to lead to failure in the acoustic design.
Utilising best practice design in residential developments contributes to the overall sustainability and balance of activities in mixed-use vibrant areas.
Designing new buildings to best practice acoustic standards in mixed use and inner-city areas, has many benefits for everyone.
In addition, Local and State Government planning approval agencies are likely to be requiring a suitable level of acoustic design in developments.
Adopting these standards makes good sense, with benefits to your business including:
- Providing an edge in a competitive market place.
- Reducing the transmission of noise into living areas and sleeping areas, ensuring the happiness and wellbeing of residents.
- Enabling a more vibrant mix of activities and residential development, making the area more appealing.
- Ensuring customer satisfaction and strengthening your reputation.
There are a number of requirements and guidelines that should be followed to ensure the best possible standards for acoustic design are achieved:
- The Building Code of Australia (BCA), and the additional Sound Insulation Guidelines. Visit: www.abcb.gov.au
- Australian Standard AS/NZ 2107:2000, for determining acoustic design levels within a building. Visit: www.standards.org.au
- Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997.
- Consult with the relevant Local and State Government agency for specific guidelines or policies on acoustic design of developments.
- The Australian Association of Acoustic Consultants (AAAC) star rating system for acoustic design of buildings.
Visit: www.aaac.org.au
Many of these design measures will also create positive benefits for the ecologically sustainable design (ESD) of the building through greater insulation, material selection and orientation of living and sleeping areas.
The advice of an acoustic consultant should be sought in implementing these standards and guidelines.
Adopting good acoustic design and construction practices gives you an edge in the competitive property marketplace.
You can let prospective purchasers know that the work you have done will ensure a more pleasant living environment for them, now and into the future.
With more residential developments located in mixed use and entertainment areas, adopting good acoustic design can give you a competitive advantage.
Living in these culturally vibrant areas is exciting, but may require a different expectation of the level of amenity, compared to a suburban residential area.
There is an onus to communicate this expectation to prospective purchasers and residents; they should be encouraged to make as informed a decision as they possibly can.
Recommend that purchasers explore and get to know the neighbourhood in which they intend to move. Where appropriate, encourage them to spend a night in a hotel or an apartment, on a Friday or Saturday night, close to where they intend to purchase. This will give them a good opportunity to get an idea of the different sounds in the area.
Suggest they consider how they might utilise indoor and outdoor areas, and what the noise levels will be with the windows and doors open and closed.
Any information you provide to purchasers is important to assist them in making an informed decision.
As planning authorities continue to adapt their practices and regulations to ensure an appropriate balance of land use and activities, acoustic design for new developments is becoming an important component.
Local and State Governments have or are developing acoustic design criteria and policies within their town planning schemes and other noise management strategies. Acoustic reports are increasingly a condition of development application.
Such agencies may require the placing of memorials on property titles to inform purchasers of the potential for some reduction in amenity due to the existing noise environment.
The planning requirements of some mixed-use areas are also changing. Northbridge is being considered as a special cultural and live entertainment precinct.
This means that a new noise management framework may be adopted for live music and entertainment, and new developments will be required to meet a higher level of acoustic design and construction.
The Sound Attenuation Support Program has been developed by the Department of Culture and the Arts, to secure continued opportunities for the performance of live original contemporary music in Western Australia.
The program is comprised of a number of strategies, including:
- Funding support for sound attenuation activities in live music venues.
- Developing information and education materials to inform all parties of their role in reaching the balance.
- Working with State and Local Government agencies to find a more mediatory approach to noise conflict resolution.
- Establishing a special cultural, live music and entertainment precinct within Northbridge.
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