The New South Wales Government wants outdoor events at the Sydney Opera House to be later, louder and larger. It is proposing to ease the restrictions on performances held at the famous venue, a move that has already raised concerns among some local residents who live nearby.
The Opera House is one of Australia's most famous cultural institutions and is recognisable the world over. The government has decided the site has some untapped potential, and so it is expanding the size and scope of some of the outdoor events being held there.
One of the practical changes is to capacity. Events on the Southern Forecourt will go from a limit of 6,000 patrons to 7,000 patrons, allowing larger crowds to gather for performances on the waterfront.
The more controversial aspect concerns noise, particularly at night. Residents who bought multi-million dollar apartments overlooking the precinct have complained over the years about the impact of concerts staged at the venue.
To address that, the government plans to change how it measures noise in the precinct so the rules are more generous towards performances. Under the previous system the outcome could be unpredictable, as a big gust of wind might carry a note further or louder than it otherwise would have and trigger the noise controls.
The government insists it will consult in good faith on the changes. At the same time it has sent a blunt message to residents of the building near the precinct where many of the complaints originate, suggesting that anyone who has bought a home next to one of the world's greatest harbours and most famous concert venues should expect some noise and some fun, and would do better to come along and join in than to sit and complain.
There is some reassurance for noise-weary residents. The number of performances staged on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House will remain capped at 99 per year, keeping a ceiling on how often the outdoor events can be held.