Promoters penalised for concert noise breaches
The recent Soundwaves Concert held at Steel Blue Oval Bassendean was attended by 11,000 and the feedback from those attending was that it was a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Crowd behaviour before, during and after the event presented no major incidents and the area was cleared quickly at the end of the evening.
A number of complaints were received from residents about the volume of the bands performing and in some cases for the language used by the bands over the PA system. Council had sound monitoring throughout the day which recorded numerous breaches of the agreed sound levels. Council has imposed a penalty of $17,000 from the bond as noise penalties for excessive noise limit breaches and turf reinstatement costs, as provided in the Licence Agreement. Council apologises for any inconvenience caused to the residents.
Council is of the view, however, that it should support entertainment for young people and that future concerts should be held at Steel Blue Oval. On that basis Council has decided to enter into discussions with the promoters on holding a similar event in 2009 on the condition that noise levels do not exceed the agreed standards.
New website up and running
The Town’s new website provides more information on the Town’s attractions and Council services and facilities and is easy to navigate.
To check out the new website go to: www.bassendean.wa.gov.au
From the Mayor’s Office
Council working to facilitate redevelopment of Eden Hill Shopping Centre
As Mayor, I can assure residents that the Council has been actively encouraging the redevelopment of the unsightly Eden Hill Shopping Centre. Council is united in its view that the site is a blight on the area and has taken decisive action to correct the situation. Unfortunately, the Minister for Planning, has not agreed with Council’s previous initiatives to date to make the redevelopment of the site more attractive.
In frustration at the lack of development, Council decided that the area should become housing and included a Special Control Area for residential zoning in the new Local Planning Scheme 10. This would have made it attractive for the owners to convert the site to housing as shopping appears to be unviable on the site.
Minister MacTiernan advised Council that housing alone was unacceptable and that the site should remain commercially zoned with limited housing with shopping the major use for local area needs and not for any district or regional catchment. Council advertised this to residents in last August’s Bassendean Briefings. The Minister’s veto meant that we were back to square one.
Council is now talking to the owners to see what can be done to get the site redeveloped. Talks will include any assistance that Council can give and Council has not ruled out looking at the potential of using the site as a marketplace.
Cr Tina Klein JP, Mayor
