Diamond Bay Bowling Club in Sydney's Vaucluse suburb has been issued a formal warning by Liquor and Gaming NSW regarding noise complaints, concluding a three-year dispute with neighboring residents. The ruling, however, stopped short of imposing license sanctions, determining that the legal threshold for an 'unreasonable and serious disturbance' was not met.
The investigation by Liquor and Gaming NSW was triggered by 57 complaints, supported by eight residents, alleging excessive noise from live music, events, and patrons. The primary complainant claimed disturbances from amplified music, DJ sets, bass noise causing vibration, and patron activity. One complaint even cited the sound of bowls on the green.
Steve Cohen, chairman of directors and president of the bowling club, expressed relief at the decision, calling it a vindication. He stated that the club has complied with all recommendations from police and authorities, noting there were no complaints of drunken disorderliness. Cohen suggested the dispute was instigated by one neighbor who recently sold an apartment in a complex built near the club during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Diamond Bay Bowling Club has invested over $200,000 in noise mitigation measures and operational changes to address the complaints. These unexpected costs have impacted the club's finances, leading to two years of operating in debt and delaying improvements to the clubhouse and bowling experience. "We can't survive on bowls green fees and memberships alone," Cohen said.
Darren Duke, director of hospitality and gaming operations for Liquor and Gaming NSW, urged the club to continue implementing reasonable measures to minimize potential impacts from its operations, particularly events with live entertainment and the use of outdoor areas. He reminded the club of its obligations to ensure its operation does not detract from the surrounding community's amenity and warned that further deterioration or deficiencies in managing disturbance issues could lead to additional regulatory action.
Cohen appealed to residents with ongoing concerns to communicate directly with the club, emphasizing that they take all individual complaints seriously. He views the club as a vital community asset that is largely seen as such by the majority of residents.