Council Rejects Proposed Apartments Next To Melb Live Music Venue Howler

The future of Melbourne's Howler looks to be safe for now after council rejected a proposal for apartments to be built next to the live music venue. 

A Moreland City Council meeting held on Thursday night saw 426 written objections submitted against the proposed developments, as well as speeches from Howler owner Brendan Brogan and Music Victoria, which resulted in council overturning their own in-house recommendations. 

"The councillors rightly believed that 74 apartments next to a live music venue would be problematic," Brogan told The Music today.

"They saw that the design didn’t take into account the Agent Of Change principle (which protects live music venues from noise complaints by new residential developments) and that more design would be needed to enable residents and Howler to co-exist.

"It is a massive win for the music industry. It means music venues are genuinely starting to feel the protection of the Agent Of Change law."

The Music broke the story last July that the future of the popular space was at risk following news of the project proposed to be built on a site at 8-14 Michael Street in Brunswick.

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The fight is not entirely over, though; the developers will be taking the decision to VCAT meaning the development could still move forward. 

However, the fact that council is now backing the venue is a massive boost of confidence. 

"It was also great to see the genuine passion that the councillors had for the issue," Brogan continued. 

"They saw that Moreland needed development, but they also saw that live music formed a key part of why people would live in Brunswick.

"More people attend live music each year in Melbourne than the AFL - it is a huge part of the community.

"People are finally starting to see that more apartments does not necessarily mean a better community. However, live music is one of the many things that does make for a better place to live."

Elaborating on the decision, Moreland City Council Deputy Mayor, Natalie Abboud, told The Music, "Although the development is of a higher quality than many of its type, we felt that the interface between it and Howler was too sensitive and the requirements regarding Agent Of Change and sound assessments (specifically related to vibration) had not been fully met.

"Brunswick has long hailed as home to a huge number of songwriters and the importance of our live music venues can't be understated."

Meanwhile federal member for Wills, Peter Khalil, who threw his support behind Howler when news of the developments broke last year, welcomed the council's decision. 

"Last year, I made representations in support of Howler to both the Council and the Victorian Government, making clear that venues and art spaces are such a crucial reason why Brunswick has become one of the most desirable suburbs in the country for people to live, work and play," Khalil said.

"As the local federal MP, I will continue to support Howler and the live music venues in our community in whatever way I can."

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