The Sidney Myer Music Bowl is operated by Arts Centre Melbourne, and is used as a venue for a wide range of live outdoor events, including the annual Carols by Candlelight, concerts by international artist (e.g. Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Neil Young, Tool, Kanye West), and festival events such as Summerdayze. Events tend to occur in a set season, during the summer months, between October - April.
These events usually use large specialist sound systems to provide amplified music. This music has the potential to break-out of the venue and cause disturbance at nearby noise sensitive receivers, including residences.
Arts Centre Melbourne has implemented a Noise Management Plan (NMP) for the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. The NMP is designed to assist Arts Centre Melbourne to manage noise from the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and meet the requirements of the State Environment Protection Policy (Control of Music Noise from Public Premises) No. N-2 (SEPP N-2).
As part of the NMP, local residents are able to view the Sidney Myer Music Bowl Residents Schedule.
A complaints hotline is available during events. The number is (03) 9281 8510.
The individual concerts and events in the schedule shall be classified by Arts Centre Melbourne as either 'red' or 'green', based on their potential to result in annoyance and the SEPP N-2 definition of a 'concert' which states the below:
'Concert' means any operation of an outdoor venue where the effective noise level exceeds 55 dB(A) (or 45 dB(A) if measured indoors) at any measurement point in a noise sensitive area.
Red Events are events that have been categorised as having potential to impact on noise levels. These events typically include: dance, festival and rock type concerts.
Required actions for Red Events include:
Green Events are events that have previously been measured to, or are expected to result in, noise levels less than 55 dB(A) at the nearest affected residents, or have a history of not generating noise complaints.
Actions for Green Events are as follows: