Busking ‘ain’t noise pollution’

Busking ‘ain’t noise pollution’Angela PownallThe West AustralianSat, 31 December 2016 12:30AMCamera IconBusker Joe Reid at his piano in Hay Street mall. Credit: Picture: Justin

Benson-CooperShare to FacebookShare to XEmail UsCopy the Link Loud noise and repetitive songs were the most common reasons given for 148 complaints made about buskers in Perth’s central

business district in the past year.

The streets of the city centre were the informal stage for up to 80 buskers a month.

Buskers must apply to the City of Perth for a monthly permit to play.

Data shows the number of buskers in Perth on a monthly basis in 2016 ranged from 32 in August to 80 in January.

Buskers also have to apply for permission to amplify their music — a common cause of complaint.

Up to 34 buskers a month were given an amplification permit.

A City of Perth spokesman said the council did not put a cap on the number of buskers but said “rangers routinely monitor activity and saturation”.

“The nature of complaints include music too loud and repetition of songs,” he said. “Rangers speak to the busker concerned and evidence indicates compliance by performers to either turn

amplifiers down and/or relocate.”

The City of Melbourne tried to ban amplified busking in the CBD.

It held a three-month trial banning amplified music in parts of the CBD after receiving hundreds of complaints about excessive music from buskers.

When the trial ended recently, only 35 of the 123 responses received by the council supported continuing the ban on amplified busking.

The City of Perth spokesman said buskers were “generally compliant” and the council was not considering a similar ban.

Joe Reid said he first busked in Perth in 1979 and returned only 12 months ago after living in London.

“I find it really satisfying. I get a really good response from people,” he said.

Reid said he took busking, or street performing as he preferred to call it, very seriously.

“I think it’s a real privilege to be able to situate yourself in the CBD in close proximity to all these businesses that are attracting people and paying their way to be here and to be able

to entertain a ready-made audience,” he said.

Reid said it was important to be respectful of the space and ambience and not cause noise pollution.

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