Save Dunedin Live Music (SDLM) devised a live music action plan calling for revised regulations on music venues.
This included zoning changes to establish entertainment precincts in the city and better regulations around residential activity in commercial mixed-use zones.
Complaints from neighbouring properties and ineffective noise restrictions had led many venues to shut or operate under restricted conditions.
Working with the Dunedin City Council, the plan would protect venues and preserve Dunedin’s music scene.
SDLM spokesman David Bennett reiterated these concerns to the council at the annual plan submission hearing yesterday.
"For many aspects ... changes to the regulatory environment are the key base for that," he said.
"We were of the understanding that the relevant changes would be made to the district plan to allow the things we had planned for in the action plan to actually stand a chance of working."
"I believe that you’re setting yourself up for failure unless we get these variations in place."
Mr Bennett requested an approximate timeline from the council as to when such improvements to the district plan could occur.
He also highlighted the need for a mid-sized venue, with an 800-1000 person capacity, to attract international acts.
Dunedin’s smaller venues were either ill-suited or under-equipped for larger scale performances.
Dunedin’s existing venues were, "all operating under a rather precarious environment", Mr Bennett said.
The Crown had imminent developments going on next door and apartments were being built across the road from Dive bar, he said.
Yours Cafe were facing the same neighbours who complained about former venue Dog With Two Tails, and Moons resided next to the same hotel that complained about The Crown and discouraged them from using their main concert room.
That raised questions about the future of historic music venue Sammy’s.
The council had bought the venue in order to preserve a piece of Dunedin’s musical heritage, but it had since sat dormant, Mr Bennett said.
He wanted the council to determine whether Sammy’s could be a viable solution to Dunedin’s scarce music venues.
Cr Carmen Houlahan asked if venues such as the Mayfair Theatre and the New Athenaeum Theatre could be used by the music sector.
Mr Bennett said those spaces were geared more towards theatrical performances and did not fit the scope of other performances.
"It does fill some gaps, not all gaps."
