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Submitter

Submission id number: 964843

Submitter name:
Craig Monk

Organisation

Do you want to speak to Councillors at the hearings?
Yes

Supporting information

No associated documents with this submission.

Submission

How are we doing? Is there anything you would like to tell us?
Live music remains under threat in Ōtepoti Dunedin, especially the amplified music our city is famous for. We keep losing venues, and the few that remain are not yet adequately protected or supported. DWTT / Bark! closed in March after facing regular noise complaints. Both The Crown Hotel and Dive Music Venue remain under threat from neighbouring developments and noise complaints. Music venues remain under threat from a host of other factors including a slow pandemic recovery, and poor night-time city safety. Likewise, ancillary spaces for live music such as rehearsal rooms and recording studios are not yet adequately protected or supported. Without these spaces, live music can’t happen. We appreciate Council's engagement to date with Save Dunedin Live Music, and its commitment to a Live Music Action Plan. Council committed to a first draft by early 2023, that plan is now overdue. Regardless, it will need resourcing and quick action to be effective, so I'm asking you for both, from this annual plan. I also ask that Council commits to delivering its work on acoustic insulation rules and any other planning changes that protect and support music venues and spaces, in time for consultation on Variation 3 of the District Plan, due this year. I continue to support the proposed stadium ticket levy as a longer term resourcing mechanism for grassroots music development in Ōtepoti Dunedin. Through live music, Council has the opportunity to support and grow a vibrant city centre, with a night-time economy focused on culture and entertainment. The alternative, through inaction, is an unsafe city centre focused on selling alcohol. I ask that Council works quickly to support the former.

What other ideas should we be thinking about to include in future plans for our city?
I'd still like to see Council return to engaging with our whole creative community over its strategy and plans. Still promised annually as part of the current Ara Toi strategy, the last check in with the whole creative community was in 2017. I'd like to see Council better connect young people with its strategy and plans for arts and culture, for example around protecting and supporting all-ages music venues. I'd like to see Council use the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Bill to develop a Local Alcohol Policy for Ōtepoti Dunedin that improves night-time city safety, and supports venues where the focus is on culture and entertainment rather than selling alcohol.

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