Sound Recordings at the Harmonie German Club
On Friday 20 March 2015 whilst parking at the Harmonie German Club (HGC) I noticed a microphone attached to the boundary fencing opposite the beer garden. I had a closer look and discovered that a black box was chained to the telegraph pole and the microphone phone cable went into the box. There were also some business cards signifying the owner but did not take a record of this. It was assumed that the device was a decibel meter. The placement position of the microphone should have been on the fence opposite the smoking cage as this would more accurately reflect sound especially when the door of the cage is opened or closed.
I talked to the manager and president of the club who had no knowledge of the device and were as ignorant as I was. No one had informed them that they used club property to place the apparent sound recording device there. I had also heard that a similar device was placed opposite the club across Jerrabomberra Ave in a block of flats.
The ACT has plans to build on the vacant block and due to concerns of possible future noise complaints, about music, it was recalled that David Collette from Public Housing Renewal Taskforce had mentioned sound measuring at a meeting with Old Narrabundah Community Council Inc (ONCC Inc).
On Friday 27 March I borrowed David Buckmaster’s (Bucky) smartphone that has the application Audio Tools for Apple. I took a sound measurement of 65-66 decibels on the boundary line at 945 pm. This application is well regarded as accurate by the Acoustic Society of the USA. It is believed that a maximum noise emission allowable at this time under the EPA Act is 45 decibels. The musician performing at that time was a solo Richard Pero who is quiet compared to others who perform at the club. According to the ESD factsheet the allowable limit after 10pm is 35dB so if there were residents on the developed vacant block it could result in a prosecution and stopping the music.
A few weeks later I phoned Peter Johns from the Public Housing Renewal Taskforce inquiring about the device and wanting to know what was happening. I told him that the club was not consulted about the placement of the devices and he replied that it was the job of the contractor.
German club members were outraged that their asset, that they had built, was being used without their knowledge or permission. It is not know why the ACT Govt does not inform a leaseholder that it intends to monitor sound from them. This sound monitoring of the HGC, at that time, is not a true reflection that the different genres of musicians produce. I am sure that the HGC Management would co-operate with any future sound monitoring that produce results that truly reflect sound emissions. Sound emissions from poker machine jackpots could also be monitored. Noise emissions at 3 am would be significant, from both the HGC & Spanish club during any soccer World Cup series.
Monitoring should be between 6pm & 12 midnight on a Friday night when live music is performed in the main bar room.
It is hoped that the report from the sound recordings are forwarded to the club in the interests of transparency. I took the amateur sound measurements to give us a rough idea of the levels of sound emissions. The establishment of the HGC as the home of the Canberra Blues Society has involved hard work by many volunteers and any restrictions on music will affect the economic viability of the club.
On Saturday 9 May at 730 pm I took a sound reading of 47 decibels, on the boundary, there were musicians performing in the HGC Kellar. This is 12 decibels over the allowable limit.
It is deplorable that the ACT Govt has clandestinely monitored noise emissions. If it was worried that noise emissions would be artificially inflated it could have just informed the club to make sure the readings were kept accurate. To date the ACT Govt has not communicated to the club about the engagement of the contractor to measure sound levels.
Austin Lynch
Vice President
Old Narrabundah Community Council Inc (ONCC)
11 May 2015.