We’ve covered all the ways in which Victoria outdoes itself as a supporter of its local music industry rather extensively. Its capital in particular is often cited as an example of what a music city should be.
But alas, noise annoys Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and so loud busking will be banned on Melbourne’s iconic and busy Swanston Street. As News Corp reports, a stretch of Swanston St will be off limits to amplified busking for three months.
The ban begins 1st August and could become permanent. According to the Sunday Herald Sun, loud busking is one of Mr Doyle’s pet peeves. “I ring up our street trading people and tell them to go down and shut them up,” he was quoted as saying in June.
According to the Lord Mayor, the council received 264 official noise-related complaints about buskers between January 2013 and 30th June 2016. “Busking contributes to the vibrancy of Melbourne’s streets and is generally popular with residents, workers and visitors,” he admitted.
“However that needs to be balanced with protecting the amenity of people who live and work in the city. We will reassess our position after the trial’s conclusion.” The ban will cover the space between Flinders Lane and La Trobe Street.
Amplified busking will still be permitted on Sundays from 10am to 6pm at “the chessboard area near Cafe L’Incontro on the corner of Lt Collins St”, but all of this raises certain questions. Namely, isn’t Swanston Street already really loud?
“You need an amp because acoustic music, like just playing guitar, can’t get above the trams,” Kier Stevens, a musician who often busks on Swanston Street, told News Corp. “Music adds to the city, it’s really good.”
