Residents Outraged: Is a Local Portuguese Club Louder Than the Jets Above This Aussie Suburb? Discover the Surprising Truth!

In the bustling inner west Sydney suburb of Marrickville, a curious conflict has emerged that has locals buzzing with opinions and the community divided. The Sydney Portugal Community Club, a beloved venue that has been a cornerstone of local culture since the early 1990s, finds itself at the center of a noise complaint controversy. This comes as a surprise to many, given that the club is nestled snugly under a flight path and adjacent to a heavy freight rail line, where the sounds of planes, trains, and trucks are part of the daily soundscape.

The club, known for its vibrant events and as a gathering place for the Portuguese community and others, has been hosting functions for over three decades. These events are not only a celebration of culture but also a vital source of revenue for the club. However, despite the constant hum of industrial activity and overhead jets, it's the sounds of festivity from the club that have sparked complaints from some residents.


Recently, an anonymous individual took it upon themselves to distribute flyers throughout the neighborhood, urging locals to lodge noise complaints with NSW Liquor and Gaming against the club's activities. The flyers specifically mentioned the club's Friday and Sunday events, which typically wrap up before 10 pm, and highlighted upcoming 12-hour outdoor music events as a potential nuisance.


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The Sydney Portugal Community Club in Marrickville has received noise complaints from residents despite its location under a flight path and next to a freight rail line. Credit: Facebook / Sydney Portugal Community Club Limited


Club secretary Jorge Martins expressed his disappointment at the situation, emphasizing the club's efforts to minimize disturbances and the financial pressure that restrictions on their events could impose. The club's events, which can host up to 1,000 people, are a lifeline for maintaining its operations.


NSW music and night-time economy minister John Graham weighed in on the matter, criticizing the flyer campaign as an inauthentic way to drum up complaints for events that mainly occur during daylight hours. He assured that legitimate noise complaints would be addressed fairly but questioned the motives behind the letterbox drop.

NSW Liquor and Gaming confirmed receiving noise-related complaints about the club, but not everyone in the community agrees with the grievances. One local resident, Andy, described the campaign against the club as 'ridiculous,' noting that while the music from the club was audible, it was not intrusive and ended at a reasonable hour. He pointed out that the industrial noise from trucks, planes, and trains was far more significant.

The debate raises important questions about community tolerance and the balance between cultural activities and residential peace. It also touches on the broader issue of how urban spaces are shared and the challenges of coexisting with diverse forms of noise in a bustling city environment.


The nearest residences are approximately 100 meters from the club, a distance that some might argue should provide a buffer against the sound of celebration. Yet, the complaints persist, and the club's future events hang in the balance.

As the community grapples with this issue, it's clear that the sounds of joy and culture are sometimes at odds with the quest for quiet. The situation at the Sydney Portugal Community Club serves as a reminder that the harmony of a neighborhood is a delicate dance, one that requires understanding, compromise, and perhaps a bit of rhythm.
Key Takeaways
  • The Sydney Portugal Community Club in Marrickville has faced complaints about noise from local residents, despite being located under a flight path and next to a heavy freight rail line.
  • Flyers were distributed urging locals to lodge noise complaints against the club for events they deemed excessively loud.
  • The club, which has been hosting events since the early 1990s, relies on these gatherings for revenue and finishes most events by 10pm.
  • NSW Liquor and Gaming confirmed receiving noise complaints, but the NSW music and night-time economy minister, John Graham, criticised the letterbox drop campaign as likely not a genuine way to handle noise issues.
We at the Seniors Discount Club invite our readers to reflect on this situation. How do you feel about balancing community events with residential tranquility? Have you experienced similar conflicts in your own neighborhoods? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below, and let's discuss the complexities of community living in our vibrant Australian cities.
 
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I also live in Perth, south of the river, but haven’t received anything from the Aviation Department.
But we have noticed much more air traffic coming from the west rather than the east when landing at Perth Airport.

I thought it may have been caused by the Qantas flight tearing up a section of tarmac due to a mechanical fault a few weeks ago.
 
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I know that area very well. My mother lived in Marrickville .

The planes do go low and are very noisy around the area where the club is.

There were also awhole lot of Brothels in that area.

There us plenty of night life , pubs and restaurants in that area .

I know exactly where the Portugese club is and the noise is no more than any other club.

I'm guessing it's a racial thing. There are now alot of Asians in that area and really are trying hard to take over.

It used to be a huge Greek area but they have slowly moved out.
 
I know that area very well. My mother lived in Marrickville .

The planes do go low and are very noisy around the area where the club is.

There were also awhole lot of Brothels in that area.

There us plenty of night life , pubs and restaurants in that area .

I know exactly where the Portugese club is and the noise is no more than any other club.

I'm guessing it's a racial thing. There are now alot of Asians in that area and really are trying hard to take over.

It used to be a huge Greek area but they have slowly moved out.
My father used to say, "Never blame on malice that which can equally be explained by stupidity."

The same applies to 'racism' and 'selfishness'.

It would not matter what type of club it was or what background the neighbours have. There's always someone who demands it's shut down if they are kept awake by other people having fun.
 
Their opening hours are actually shorter than most clubs

Saturday11:30 am–12 am
Sunday11:30 am–7 pm
Monday11:30 am–7 pm
Tuesday11:30 am–7 pm
Wednesday11:30 am–9 pm
Thursday11:30 am–9 pm
Friday11:30 am–12 am
 
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There always is one who has to complain about some neighbourhood situation that they do not approve of. I call them Sour Grapes and those without a life beyond.
 
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Reactions: Littleboy8
Maybe a compromise would be to have double glazing or noise barriers. The fact that there were no complaints previously, seems to suggest it’s a newcomer.
 

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