Big Day Out has to finish earlier

• Event must close by 10pm

• Noise levels to be closely monitored

Noise conditions for the Big Day Out music festival have been toughened up and the event will have to finish an hour earlier than scheduled after noise concerns were raised by local residents.

Environment Minister Bill Marmion announced his decision today, following an earlier decision by the Town of Claremont not to approve the application for the concert.

"I've taken into consideration the council's views and advice from the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and weighed these against the overall benefit of the festival and ways to mitigate noise concerns," Mr Marmion said.

"The new conditions state that the festival must finish by 10pm and DEC will monitor noise levels throughout the event.

"The conditions enable some exceedences of noise levels to take into account factors over which the organisers have no control such as changing winds or unusual weather conditions.

"I acknowledge that this is a challenging event to manage with respect to noise, but consider that the proposed conditions of approval are reasonable and the organisers should be able to comply with them.

"Given the earlier closing time, I have allowed the organisers to start the event one hour earlier, at 10am."

DEC will issue the concert organisers with their approval which includes the new Ministerial conditions.  Ministerial conditions are set under regulation 18 of the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations and are not subject to appeal.

      Fact File

• Claremont Showground considered Perth's safest large venue for hosting events like Big Day Out

• Added clause requires independent oversight of complaint response service

 Minister's office - 6552 6800