The Australian Technology Park
– a research and development precinct with an
entertainment venue – is
located in the former Eveleigh Railway Workshops and has held a number of big
events [most recently the MTV music awards]. Mr Sheridan has written numerous
letters to council, police and the management of the ATP over the years
notifying them that noise from such events is unacceptably loud.
“It is this
high amplified music coming out of these buildings that were built during the
days of the railway,” he says. “If it was once in a blue moon we could tolerate
it but they seem to be having a lot more functions.”
The ATP has
employed acoustic engineers to monitor the noise but Mr Sheridan says
invitations made by him for noise to be measured from his residence have been
rejected.
“The current ATP until recently retained the services of the
Acoustic Group with its engineers advising me that they were under strict instructions
only to take noise readings from the footway outside 499 Wilson Street, where
in many cases the noise was inaudible,” Mr Sheridan wrote recently in a letter
to the police.
“Why
has the ATP refused to monitor where persistent noise complains are brought to
his attention?” he adds.
Mr Sheridan has
proposed that events at the Redfern site that may exceed the legal noise
limits should be cancelled until the building is acoustically treated.
Robert Domm,
Managing Director of the ATP says he will do what he can to get to the truth of
the matter and has employed engineers to conduct further testing during the MTV
music awards.
“I am
engaging some new people to conduct further testing in recommended locations
around the area and on the path and I will be assessing the outcome,” he says.
“I acknowledge that there is probably a noise that we are hearing, but the
issue is if that noise is excessive.”
“We are
going to do proper testing and this is going to be the biggest event that the
park has ever had so it is a good event to test on,” he adds. “We are going to
adopt an impartial and scientific approach.”
And if the
tests show that the events exceed legal noise limits: “We will act responsibly
and in accordance with our legal obligations and therefore if we find we have
an issue we have to find a solution.”
If you are hearing what you believe is
excessive noise from this area please email us at editor@ssh.com.au
Photo: Ali Blogg- Caption: Bill Sheridan
Source:
South Sydney Herald May 2008 www.southsydneyherald.com.au