Melb Venue Forced To Reduce Music To 'Background' Levels After Complaints

Popular floating Melbourne nightclub ATET has once again been warned to keep it down or lose their licence after the council was bombarded with "an unprecedented number of complaints" about the hotspot.

After the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that the venue's noise levels were "unreasonable" in the residential area, they pushed to have the club's license revoked.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the venue now must have to reduce its music volume to a "background" level until it could show compliance with the licence agreement.

Capp said she hoped the "new proposition" would encourage the owners of the nightclub to "reconsider" their business model.

"We see other venues on water operate very successfully. We hope that we can find that sort of way forward with the operators of the ATET," she said.

"We want to keep supporting new businesses coming into the City of Melbourne and Docklands in particular, this was an opportunity to see that happen and it still could be that way."

However, ATET owner Jake Hughes told 9News shocked by the council's decision to withdraw its support for the venue.

"We are compliant," Hughes said."We are operating in accordance with our planning permit and the EPA regulations."

He also told the Herald Sun that he was “incredibly frustrated” with the council after it helped the project for three years, granted planning permits and then changed their minds.

“It’s really disappointing that they can support a project for that long and then seem to be just be willing to pull the pin as easily, given what is it stake for me and my family,” he said.

“It’s a really drastic and unnecessary reaction given our willingness to work with them.

“To potentially destroy a family business … We put six years into this and literally everything is on the line."

He added, “To basically pull the rug out from under like this is really disappointing, I feel pretty disillusioned with the whole system.”

It's just the latest in a messy string of incidents for ATET, with a fire ripping through the club in January 2023.

A spokesperson from the venue stated at the time, "Our whole team has put their heart and soul into this venture so this has hit us hard." 

"Thank you everyone for the beautiful messages of support, luckily no one was on board when the fire occurred so we are beyond relieved that our lovely staff are safe. It will take us some time to regroup but the good news is the fire and damage was localised and it’s nothing that can’t be fixed."

"We have to extend our deepest gratitude to the person who called in the fire, and we are forever indebted to the amazing and swift response from the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade (@melbournemfb) who did a sterling job in containing the fire and saving our venue. Thank you, you are all incredible!

"Rest assured we’re not done and we’ll be back soon!"

It's not the first time they've received noise complaints, either. In October of last year, 9News reported, the council had been “inundated with complaints” about “loud, obnoxious music” and had been forced to launch an investigation to determine whether or not the venue has breached its planning permit.