Thousands feel and hear the love

Clearly not everyone living in Tauranga was feeling the love over the long weekend.

Now into its fourth year, more than 15,000 reggae lovers headed on mass to Tauranga Domain for the annual One Love music festival.


One Love organisers are hailing this year's festival a success despite the Tauranga City Council receiving more than 100 noise complaints over the course of the two-day event. Photo: Tracy Hardy

The Tauranga City Council received more than 100 noise complaints across the two day event with the majority of complainants living in Brookfield and Pillans Point. Complaints were also received from Matua, Judea and Pyes Pa.

Festival director Pato Alvarez appreciates there were a number of noise complaints during One Love but adds the organising team did everything required of them as part of their resource consent.

'Obviously you're going to have complaints when running festivals but I'm pretty sure the majority of the city were happy,” he says.

'We spent six months working with council on our resource consent and complied with everything required of us. There was also an independent noise specialist approved by council measured noise levels every hour.

'Everything ran as it was supposed to, the festival goers had a great time, the atmosphere was great with an awesome vibe, the police were happy and a number of businesses have said it was their busiest weekend of summer.”

But an irate Francis Tomkins of Brookfield is not having any of that.

The Darraghs Road resident says the noise was louder than anything she's ever experienced and describes it as a 'home invasion”.

And she was so annoyed by the sound levels her first call wasn't to noise control but to Tauranga mayor Stuart Crosby.

'I'm steamed about it and extremely disappointed, everybody knew the sound level was too high,' says Francis.

'I wasn't going to contact noise control because in the past I found it to be ineffective so I called the mayor on Saturday to say ‘what are you doing Stuart?'. I actually ended up saying I wasn't ringing about the noise but about the resource consent.”

Francis says on Sunday she eventually ended up making numerous phone calls to noise control– 'on the hour every hour” – to the point where the centre's staff asked her not to call anymore.

'Every time I rang noise control they said they could hear the concert over the phone. The answer I got was council instructed them to only take names and addresses, as they weren't going to do anything about it.”

Given the number of festival goers and the fact it had to be moved from Wharepai Domain to the larger Tauranga Domain, Francis believes the consented noise levels should have been adjusted.

She also feels council staff should have monitored sound levels instead of a council-approved independent noise specialist.

Francis say she will now be investigating the resource consent and plans to head to Tauranga District Court to find out how to take out an injunction 'on the behalf of the all people that were distressed”.

Tauranga City Council Environmental Monitoring manager Andrew McMath says One Love's consent permitted amplified noise from 10.30am to 12.30pm both days, 1.30pm – 10.30pm on Saturday and 1pm – 9.30pm on Sunday.

As a condition of their resource consent, One Love organisers were also responsible for engaging an independent noise specialist who was approved by council.

'Initial conversations with the event organiser on Saturday and Sunday suggest that the festival has been operating within the noise limit conditions of their consent.

'Council's noise control service logs any complaints about the event and advises the event organiser when a number of calls have been received. Noise Control is provided with a direct dial number for the event organiser.”

Council will now review the noise monitoring reports and wind readings, liaise with the event's technical staff in charge of noise monitoring, and call some of complainants to ensure council has all the facts, says Andrew.

While Senior Sergeant Rob Glencross says all-in-all Tauranga Police are happy with how the festival ran over the weekend.

In total, eight people were arrested from the festival over the course of the two days for a variety of behaviour offences.

'Considering the number of people who were at the festival, we are pretty happy with how the festival has run,” he says.

'While there were noticeably more people around the CBD after the event, they were well behaved and caused us no problems at all. As far as we're concerned the event was a success.”

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23 comments

Judea

Posted on 10-02-2016 08:45 | By mamam

I live in Judea and we heard it too but I didn't feel it was excessive. It was a concert after all! We couldn;t hear anything after about 6pm and not until late morning on both days. People need to lighten up, really ringing EVERY hour?!! And no I am not a young person or a reggae fan.


Ear Plugs are Cheap

Posted on 10-02-2016 09:00 | By tabatha

We live at Bureta and could hear the music, and I say music, even though not a real lover of reggae, but what a thrill for the people who. It is time some people in Tauranga realised that we are no longer a sleepy hollow but a big NZ city and we all need to grow with it. Suggest to those who did not like ear pluggs or go away for the weekend. TCC please keep an open mind and realise Tauranga needs a variety of entertainment. The 10.00 p.m. curfew for Baypark because of one person is stupid. Time for a review of times and levels. We note wind on Saturday was our way but on Sunday away, perhaps that is why it was extra loud, that I believe is in the lap of the Gods. Tauranga needs to have a buzz about, keep it going. Resident since 1994


Rural Ohauiti

Posted on 10-02-2016 09:13 | By RASM

We live in Rural Ohauiti, 10kms and 20 minutes drive away from the Domain...and could hear the predictable heavy beat and the music so much so, that we thought it was some rural neighbours at first. When Baypark Arena had a concert around New Year, we heard it so loudly all day that our rural neighbours initially suspected each other as responsible for the loud music. Then we decided it must be travelling from Welcome Bay, but we shocked to find when we called Noise Control (who had had numerous complaints), that it was coming from Baypark Arena. Our friends who live by Kaiate Falls could also hear it. If we were troubled by it 12 kms away, how were the people faring who lived closer? Surely consented noise levels need to be re-evaluated.


Te Puna

Posted on 10-02-2016 09:27 | By claires

Yes, we could hear the music from Crawford Road on Saturday, I think because the breeze was carrying it our way. But it was a 2-day annual event on a holiday weekend and finished at a reasonable time so not a big deal for us. It wasn't like it was the neighbours playing music and we were worried it would be happening every night. Also we were in the CBD on Sunday and could hardly hear the music so I imagine sound levels really depended on your location.


Oh Come On!!

Posted on 10-02-2016 09:32 | By 2cents

Why are people so quick to complain and whinge?? Get a grip Tauranga! Those who live near or far, try and show some good grace for the brief time these events are run, whether at the Domain or Baypark. Show some tolerance! These events bring in a lot of punters and are good for our economy as well. Highly agree with tabatha and maman :)


Hinewa Rd

Posted on 10-02-2016 09:46 | By si

Heard it from our place and it was GREAT. Embrace the good vibe Francis instead of stressing yourself out.


Get Over It Francis

Posted on 10-02-2016 10:17 | By TooSensational

It's a few days in an otherwise peaceful year. I live in Pillans, and the music was loud, but it wasn't death metal, it was reggae, and good stuff too. I'd have been grumpy if it went over time, but it didn't. As has been mentioned, wind & low cloud played a factor and no-one can control that. Perhaps next year go on holiday for Waitangi weekend.


Overit

Posted on 10-02-2016 10:44 | By overit

Wow 2 days in a whole year. Finishing at 10.30pm. What a wowser this woman is-lets look at the benefits here.


Don't let minorities rule the majority

Posted on 10-02-2016 11:07 | By noj

So once again a few narrow minded residents with zero tolerance expect to ruin it for the majority. We live in matua and heard the noise too but realize that if more than 15000 people were having a good time then a few hours of noise was not really an issue


Tolerance

Posted on 10-02-2016 12:40 | By Tep

Sometimes we have very little and when we do the small things seem so much bigger, there are many things we can choose to do. Always try to do something positive this will benefit you as well as those around you. If you cant be tolerant be positive go and visit a friend or relation and if none of these then a quite weekend at an idyllic location should top your tank up..... enjoy life


I agree

Posted on 10-02-2016 12:51 | By hostile

The noise on Saturday night was bloody loud in Matua- thought someone was blasting their bass nextdoor- but no, it was the festival. I dont care how many people liked it- I didnt and found it to be illegaly loud. Maybe the noise testers need to measure bass tones at certain distances to measure proper sound levels. Useless Council


Bethlehem

Posted on 10-02-2016 12:53 | By mlow

As someone who suffer from migraine headaches and NO..it was not possible to go away for the weekend.(and why should I) and why should I have to wear earplugs in my own home!! The noise was EXCESSIVE! The cloud cover didnt help..and these factors should have been taken into account when checking the noise levels. Did anyone come and check the DB level in these areas where people were saying it was thumping into their home?? No..they didnt..2 days of it!! If I had the Mayors number..I would have called him as well!!


One Love Bloodbath

Posted on 10-02-2016 13:03 | By terminator

Sunday morning opening my shop I was greeted with a bloodbath on wiindows and in car parks...a very serious incident obviously went down there overnight...I have some gastly photos. My question is why the domain? Surely the facilities and parking at BayPark would have been far better? there was camping provided for there after all. I guess there is a logical explanation.


City prospers by these events

Posted on 10-02-2016 13:30 | By Nancyone

We were at the waterfront on Sunday afternoon and enjoyed sharing a table with 2 ladies from Canberra and one from Sydney. They were staying at the Sebel and had come to Tauranga for 4 days for this concert. We had to wait for over an hour for our lunch that is how busy the fish shop was.. Many were getting their takeaways to enjoy at the domain


Tolerance

Posted on 10-02-2016 13:47 | By PaulineG

We live halfway up Oropi Road and we could hear the music, which is the first time ever. I think it had alot to do with the weather, low cloud would make the sound seem louder. I agree with the first few comments, people need to lighten up a bit. Was a great thing to bring to the struggling down town area, from what I have heard it was a fantastic weekend. You cant please everybody though, even living in the country someone complained about the neighbours cows mowing the other day. What is up with that.!!!!


Bethlehem

Posted on 10-02-2016 14:14 | By Rivendell

The deep bass sound was very loud on Saturday evening. We thought someone over the valley in Brookfield were having a party.


10:15 pm Sunday is well past

Posted on 10-02-2016 15:44 | By SML

the 9:30 pm Sunday that the noise was supposed to be stopped, but we could hear it VERY clearly here, between Maitland and Argyll Streets on Cameron Road, Greerton, and could not get through to noise control to voice complaints. It's just not on for noise - severe noise - to be heard that far from the source, and I sympathise with all residents much closer, as we could hear it from inside, over TV, with the doors closed! There was no way to avoid it!. One friend in Edgecumbe Road spent Sunday morning on a ECG machine in A & E at the hospital for a heart condition, was sent home "to rest", and of course got none. It's just not on that such a wide area should be forced to endure unwanted noise, without proper attention to the appropriate law. TCC - wake up, noise is PROBLEM!


One Love Concert

Posted on 10-02-2016 19:03 | By peter pan

Nobody should have that noise inflicted on them without their consent.Why was it so loud surely you can listen to music at the domain and not ram it into peoples lounges around the city.Just screw the volume down simple.


winges

Posted on 10-02-2016 19:49 | By rosscoo

What a bunch of winges. I am not a fan of Reggae music. But this concert was over by 10pm each night and brings in revenue to the community. Obviously people have nothing better to do but moan about everyone else get a life people.


hunkeydorey

Posted on 11-02-2016 02:02 | By hunkeydorey

One does expect some significant noise from a concert now and then, however, we should not have to put up with people living in vans without toilet facilities who used the Rose gardens and surrounding areas to relieve themselves in. Council needs to be tougher in this regard. Council contractors also refused to deal with the issue due to the visitors having been drinking, perhaps some more stringent plans are required in future.


Get A Life

Posted on 11-02-2016 16:53 | By Mommatum

I'm also an older person, not a fan of reggae and actually live in the central city. My decision to do so was largely influenced by "lifestyle", including concerts, sporting and cultural events which we know about in advance and can plan for. The whinger brigade including one woman who had the cheek to interrupt Mayor Crosbie's personal time need to get a life, and understand that we have a Domain and it's there to be used. Not just that but we live in a city, and public events are a part of that. Alternatively they can always move to the country, where no doubt they'd soon be complaining about tractor noise, roosters crowing and cows mooing.


100 complaints

Posted on 15-02-2016 10:51 | By morepork

... is NOT just ONE person upset by it. The Festival is great but the fact is that the noise levels were excessive, annoying, and intrusive. You can have a successful festival without being ridiculous about it. If it is all about noise, then have it at the TECT park. Events in the Domain should BE in the Domain and not imposed on a 15 KM area surrounding it. See my other comments on the "Day Two" report on the festival from Sun Live.


To Mommatum

Posted on 16-02-2016 12:40 | By RASM

You made the comment, that 'The whinger brigade' should move out to the country. What you obviously don't realise, is that some of us WERE in the country! The word'Rural' = 'Country'! Rural Ohauiti, Halfway up Oropi, and Kaiate Falls IS country!


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