WA Labor's new approach to noise regulations to save Freo Social

A re-elected Cook Labor Government will ensure Freo Social continues to operate into the future by enabling the iconic local venue to be exempt from noise regulations up to four nights per week.
  • Re-elected Cook Labor Government to save Freo Social from expected closure
  • Exemption from noise restrictions up to four nights a week will give the popular live music venue confidence to continue taking bookings
  • WA Labor committed to protecting Fremantle's strong arts and music scene

A re-elected Cook Labor Government will ensure Freo Social continues to operate into the future by enabling the iconic local venue to be exempt from noise regulations up to four nights per week.

Freo Social currently does not have confidence to make future music bookings because acoustic engineers have advised they will not be able to comply with environmental noise regulation measures following the upcoming opening of a new hotel next door – despite sound attenuation and acoustic baffling works having previously been undertaken.

A re-elected Cook Labor Government will move to ensure Freo Social can remain viable and a much-loved feature of the Fremantle community.

This will involve enabling the long-standing venue to be exempt from noise regulations up to four nights per week.

Freo Social is a 500-capacity venue in the 1985 heritage-listed Artillery Drill Hall in the heart of Fremantle. It has operated as a live music venue for almost 40 years. In 2015, with investments from Freo Social, the State Government and the National Trust, the Drill Hall was conserved and adapted as a world-class live performance venue.

Comments attributed to Environment Minister Reece Whitby:

"Fremantle Council made the right decision putting conditions on new developments to manage for sound attenuation from the existing events at Freo Social, but unfortunately this was overturned by the State Administrative Tribunal.

"We can't have a situation where we kill off our arts industry in the pursuit of new developments.”

Comments attributed to Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk:

"Freo Social is part of Fremantle's fabric, and we need a sensible approach that allows music and entertainment venues like this to keep operating.

“Freo’s culture and vibrancy are worth fighting for and I hope this commitment will ensure this iconic live music venue can continue to thrive for many years to come.”

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