Noisy Park Parties Driving These Residents Mad

Noise from late-night parties at a popular CBD park is so bad even the homeless have moved out, sleep-deprived neighbours say, and a local councilor says the situation is only likely to get worse unless there’s a major change. Brendan O’Malley, South-East Advertiser Subscriber only | November 15, 2020 6:07am

Kangaroo Point residents are hoping light timers will finally stop a spate of late-night parties in scenic Captain Burke Park which have been driving them mad.

They claim police and Council officers have done little to help fix the problem, which is now so bad it appears to have even driven away “rough sleepers’’ who use the park’s shelters.

The Gabba Councillor Jonathan Sri said noise from park parties would become worse unless high-density development was controlled near green space, and unless Council built more community halls.

“We’ve had thousands of people move into this area, many of them young people, and they have few options to hold music and party events which don’t involve hiring a venue at great expense,” Cr Sri said.

“I think in future we are looking at more complaints about parks unless something is done.

“This particular matter is a good reminder about the need for more bookable halls and community facilities for parties and events.”

Parties in Captain Burke Park are so loud, late and frequent neighbours have had to call police.

A spokeswoman said Council was “currently installing new, high-visibility signs at the shelter at Captain Burke Park”.

Quest Newspapers understands a new sign went up on Friday, but failed to stop yet another all-night party which eventually stopped about 5am.

“Signs read ‘Please respect nearby neighbours. Keep the noise down after dark.’

“Council is also investigating the possibility of installing timers on the shelter lights.”

But she said noise complaints involving loud music, violence and anti-social behaviour were police matters.

Ron Uphill, who moved into the nearby Venture apartment block in Holman St in March, said the problem had grown worse since then.

He had raised the matter with a Neighbourhood Watch group, contacted police and Council officers, all to no avail.

Council workers often have to clean up after parties in Captain Burke Park.

“We’re not wowsers and when we moved here we expected noise from picnickers and parties,” he said.

“But we’re talking about loud music and very drunk people on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday nights, until well into the morning.“

“One night it went until 4am. I called police and some of them tried to run away, but one was so drunk they just threw up in the garden.”

Mr Uphill said the current sign asking users of the covered shelters to respect neighbours was only 15cm wide and near the rafters, where it was easily missed.

He said the nearby Brisbane Jazz Club, in contrast, never caused trouble and went to great lengths to ask patrons to be quiet when they were leaving.