Council may help find band practice areas

Press, 29 May 1981, Page 6

Council may help find band practice areas

The Christchurch City Council may help rock bands to find places to practise where their music will not upset residential neighbours.

Members of the council’s health and general committee were told yesterday that the number of complaints received about band noise often did not reflect the community’s views.

Since 1979 closer monitoring of noise complaints has been carried out by the City Health Department. In 1980, 91 complaints about noise were received, 49.4 per cent of these relating to. musical activity involving stereo equipment, bands, and parties. Almost half of such complaints were about band noise.

So far this year 46 noise complaints have been received. 43.5 per cent of them relating to musical activity. Councillors were told that some young people treated their bands just as leisure activities but others were unemployed and were trying

to earn money with their music. Even established bands had problems finding suitable places to practise. Health Department officers had always tried to reason with bands that had drawn noise complaints but their efforts had . often resulted in bands simply moving from one place to another that was equally sensitive.

Commercial bands are not allowed to work in residential zones because of districtscheme restrictions. The matter will be referred to the council’s community services committee to see if suitable facilities for band practice can be found.