Lost rock concerts cost centre $100,000

The North Shore Events Centre lost $100,000 last year when it had to veto three rock concerts likely to inflame residents' anger about loud music.

Centre manager Donald Southee said yesterday that to go ahead with the concerts would have been inappropriate while the centre and residents had appeals before the Environment Court.

"We normally do six a year but we did only Green Day in March. We turned down billings from concert promoters."

A decision on the appeals has been announced, with Judge Craig Thompson siding with resident Colin Heald and the Sunnybrae Residents' Association, who argued that the centre should not be permitted to hold six concerts a year where music would exceed official noise limits.

The judge allowed a resource consent to hold non-complying concerts only on the conditions proposed by the residents to reduce bass sound levels.

The centre's trust board has the option of containing noise by fitting sound insulation in the roof but says that as a break-even operation it cannot afford to.

Deputy chairman Robert Jay said it had yet to discuss whether it could carry on with concerts under the new rules. "Probably we can't live with it. I'm disappointed because it's a loss of opportunity for people to come to these events."

Mr Jay said the centre catered for acts which suited audiences of about 4000 and which would otherwise not play at Auckland.

The centre was built for multi-purpose community use in 1990 by the North Shore City Council and was extended in 1999 by the charitable trust which now owns and runs it.

It is used by Harbour Gymnastics and hosts netball, basketball, community sports programmes and functions.