Freo Social: Musicians rally to save live music venue under threat of closure due to development

Some of Perth’s leading musicians have launched a campaign to save a Fremantle live music venue that claims noise restrictions could force it to close, because of a hotel being built next door. The owners of Freo Social accused the City of Fremantle of abandoning the Parry Street venue in its fight with developer Silver Leaf. “What we’re seeing is construction killing culture,” Triple 1 Three managing director James Legge said. “It’s got to co-exist and having a hotel built three metres from our doorstep does not make sense. “We’re staring down the barrel at the moment, so we really need urgent action.” In a twist, Labor has vowed to step in to exempt Freo Social from noise restrictions up to four nights a week if the Cook State Government is re-elected. Local MP Simone McGurk declared the venue a part of Fremantle’s fabric. “Freo’s culture and vibrancy are worth fighting for,” she said. “We need a sensible approach that allows music and entertainment venues like this to keep operating.” But industry lobby group West Australian Music said Freo Social isn’t the only venue under threat. “There needs to be a reasonable test put in place where you’ve got a long established live music venue,” WAM chief executive Owen Whittle said. “This one’s been here longer than I’ve been alive, it should be protected from encroaching development.” ARIA award winning singer songwriter Abbe May has joined Donna Simpson from The Waifs, Cal Kramer from the Southern River Band and two dozen other local musicians in a public plea for action on the industry’s behalf. She feared Freo Social could be the first of many to be threatened by noise complaints, due to the arrival of new neighbours long after they open. “My first gigs when my career took off 20 years ago were here,” she said. “We have so many amazing internationally successful artists that have been born from this scene, it’s so important. “Development is important, but so is culture . . . I think it sets a dangerous precedent. “They should be making sure that, if you are going to build so close to such a vital live music venue, there’s no way of bulldozing that venue.” Fremantle chief executive Glen Dougall said no decision has been made. “The City has engaged a noise consultant, who has experience in the Perth CBD and Northbridge,” he said. “We must wait for the hotel build to finish so that proper noise testing can occur. Once testing has been conducted, there will be a discussion about the results and what can be done.” But Mr Legge said it should be “first comes first served” and he’s worried mediation efforts have so far failed. “They’re going to enforce compliance,” he said. “I was very disappointed and I felt let down, because we had those reassurances and now, through the planning process, they’ve been unwound.”