Raised voices over noisy bar

A Darlinghurst pub may have breathed new life into old walls but it’s revival is aggravating neighbours living next door and above the venue.

Kinselas on Bourke St expanded its entertainment to higher floors in April to make room for The Standard but ever since, residents nearby have complained of the resultant noise which penetrates through walls, even on weekdays.

Residents have suffered through all kinds of noise pollution including drum beats, repeated low frequency sounds and loud bands.

Resident of Vivere Apartments, Scott McKeown, said: “If someone taps you on the head with a balloon for thirty seconds, it is bearable. But if someone does that to you for six to seven hours, you lose it. That’s what the noise is like from Kinselas.”

Mr McKeown has rung the police several times and City of Sydney council rangers have visited his home over 10 times since April.

Rangers have tested sound levels from inside his apartment and instructed Kinselas to reduce the noise levels.

The noise reduces after each visit but resumes again shortly afterwards.

When he has approached Kinselas’ operators with noise complaints, Mr McKeown said he was rudely told off by the pub’s staff.

Vivere Apartments building management has had discussions with Kinselas.

Building manager Michael Hartigan said he had strata meetings with the licensee and had complained to the liquor board.

“In my fifteen years as building manager, none of these pubs are good neighbours. You have to fight them to live together.”

Mr McKeown and two other residents from the area have now lodged formal complaints with the City of Sydney council and the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing.

A City of Sydney spokesperson said: “The City has received a number of noise complaints related to Kinselas, and these are being investigated. If excessive noise levels are confirmed, the premises could be fined and ordered to take steps to cut noise pollution levels.

“Restaurants, nightclubs and hotels have a responsibility to ensure that music and crowd noise is controlled and does not have an unfair impact on people living nearby. The City enforces noise regulations that protect the lifestyle of residents.”

Residents in other apartment buildings suffer the same problem.

A resident in the apartment building above the Serafim Pharmacy, Noelene, said: “It’s just the music! It goes from Wednesday to Sunday, from 7pm to past midnight. It sounds like a football match in there carrying on like they were killing each other”.

“When David McHugh owned the pub, he held meetings with the residents like a civil gentleman. We had amicable meetings about it,” she said.

Inner city living, especially near nightclubs and pubs like Kinselas, has its challenges.

Many business owners near Kinselas agree that noise is an accepted part of their location but say the community must be considered.

The Pelican, a bar two shops away from Kinselas, held a loud afternoon function last Sunday.

After two police visits, The Pelican adjusted its volumes allowing for the party to continue without having to deal with further complaints.

The venue’s bar manager Jean Munos said: “It’s all about being good neighbours. It does not work if it’s not about the community.”

Kinselas recently informed residents that it had installed a noise limiting system to its amplifiers and organised a hotline for noise related complaints.

None of Kinsela’s management staff returned City News’  phone calls.

By Su-Lin Tan