“Completely unnecessary”: MPavilion event next to residents causes headaches

By Spencer Fowler Steen

Residents living next to the carpark at 36 Little Collins St are concerned about the lack of consideration afforded to them by the City of Melbourne and MPavillion organisers who held a music event there in March.

President of Residents 3000 Rafael Camillo, who lives near the site, said the bass from the DJs and the noise from a large crowd of people drinking alcohol next to his apartment from 12pm onwards on March 21 caused a lot of “distress” to many residents living in the area. 

“Just to note that the situation of MPavilion and DJs in the car park on 36 little Collins St is a disgrace,” Mr Camillo wrote in an email to the council’s director of on-street support and compliance Dean Robertson.

“It was completely unnecessary to have DJs and alcohol in the car park – noise penetrates into our building causing a lot of distress.”

While Mr Camillo said he was not against the concept of MPavilion, which aims to put on free cultural events for the community, he expressed concerns over the lack of consultation and consideration for nearby residents.

“I already left my house twice to not deal with the bass that is coming from the venue,” he said.

“I also called council and the organiser and nothing has been done about the noise too.”

CBD News asked the council whether alternative venues that are not as close to residential living spaces were considered, and whether there will be similar music events at the carpark in the future, but the council declined to comment. MPavilion was also contacted for comment.

In a year where economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is paramount, MPavilion is a key organisation which will attract people back into the CBD, helping support artists and designers who have been particularly disadvantaged.

But with a need to attract more residents to live in the city considered central to the city’s economic recovery from COVID-19, how the council balances this and future events with consideration and consultation with local residents remains to be seen.

MPavilion is an ongoing initiative of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation and is supported by City of Melbourne, state government through Creative Victoria, Development Victoria and RACV •