No noise please, we're Canberran

Dork said :

Also mentioned on there is that Watson residents are annoyed with the noise because of Canberra airport.

Let’s get rid of all the planes!

I think you’ll find that they only complain about those planes which fly over or near Watson, specifically those departing the airport to the north and turning left too early. The nearest North Canberra residences to the flightpath are about two kilometres away – Hackett along McKenzie Street – and shielded by the Mount Majura ridgeline.

Provided the planes stay on the direct line, they aren’t much of a problem, but when they peel off too soon, for example to head towards Perth or Adelaide or Melbourne rather than continue northwards away from their destinations, then you get aircraft noise.

I think it’s a valid complaint and the best way to address it is to require that planes don’t leave the northwards flight path until they are clear of residential areas.

KB1971 said :

Skyring said :

KB1971 said :

Skyring is generalising all the residents of Watson hate it, I am sure not all residents feel the same. I still see no evidence of a massive uproar in Watson every year about the nats.

Bzzzt. Wrong!
You should read what is being written. I’m talking about the residents of Watson who were moved to complain about the noise, the smoke etc. in terms emphasising suffering, misery, unhappiness and so on.

Some Watson residents love Summernats. I seem to recall Chic Henry living there at one stage.

But my concern is with the people who are suffering, not those who would like to see it a year-round event.

Um, not so, nowhere have you talked about a minority of Watson residents but have used general tems.

I’ve just checked, and this turns out not to be the case. But I’m always happy – as above – to clarify the misunderstandings of those who are hasty or illiterate or backwards in their comprehension.

But in all honesty, you are overreacting, being unrealistic and over exaggerating. My neighbour has baby who I can hears crying at night, let’s get rid of all the babies.

Watson residents wont be happy until there is complete silence at ALL times. Now i’m going to make a special effort to turn my music up really loud everytime I drive through.

Also mentioned on there is that Watson residents are annoyed with the noise because of Canberra airport.

Let’s get rid of all the planes!

Skyring said :

KB1971 said :

Skyring is generalising all the residents of Watson hate it, I am sure not all residents feel the same. I still see no evidence of a massive uproar in Watson every year about the nats.

Bzzzt. Wrong!
You should read what is being written. I’m talking about the residents of Watson who were moved to complain about the noise, the smoke etc. in terms emphasising suffering, misery, unhappiness and so on.

Some Watson residents love Summernats. I seem to recall Chic Henry living there at one stage.

But my concern is with the people who are suffering, not those who would like to see it a year-round event.

Um, not so, nowhere have you talked about a minority of Watson residents but have used general tems.

The thread has talked about minorities but not in Watson specifically 😉

In the last edition of the watson ‘watzon’ newsletter, the only thing they mention about summernats is that they had someone attend nightly meetings with the event organizers. It doesn’t say whether they expressed concern, or anything like that really, just that they were there.

Keijidosha said :

So where can I read what is being written on the subject?

Kindly check the tagline.

Skyring said :

You should read what is being written. I’m talking about the residents of Watson who were moved to complain about the noise, the smoke etc. in terms emphasising suffering, misery, unhappiness and so on.

So where can I read what is being written on the subject?

KB1971 said :

Skyring is generalising all the residents of Watson hate it, I am sure not all residents feel the same. I still see no evidence of a massive uproar in Watson every year about the nats.

Bzzzt. Wrong!
You should read what is being written. I’m talking about the residents of Watson who were moved to complain about the noise, the smoke etc. in terms emphasising suffering, misery, unhappiness and so on.

Some Watson residents love Summernats. I seem to recall Chic Henry living there at one stage.

But my concern is with the people who are suffering, not those who would like to see it a year-round event.

chilli said :

I live a couple of streets back from Northborne and yes, the noise increases a bit during Summernats, but I quite like it. There are worse things in the world than the throb of a supercharged V8, or having a car do a few donuts at the end of your street once a year.

It may not be your idea of fun, but it is for a lot of other people – harmless fun too, for the most part.

Live and let live.

Yes, but if the “fun” of some people impacts severely on the lives of others, “live and let live” doesn’t apply. It seems that people calling for Freedom and Tolerance from other people are always intent on foisting their noise or other undesirable effects on other people, but don’t recognise that other people should be free from their noise, or expect tolerance for their desire for quiet.

No one has the right to blast other people with noise and anti-social behaviour.

chilli said :

I live a couple of streets back from Northborne and yes, the noise increases a bit during Summernats, but I quite like it. There are worse things in the world than the throb of a supercharged V8, or having a car do a few donuts at the end of your street once a year.

It may not be your idea of fun, but it is for a lot of other people – harmless fun too, for the most part.

Live and let live.

My point exactly. Skyring is generalising all the residents of Watson hate it, I am sure not all residents feel the same. I still see no evidence of a massive uproar in Watson every year about the nats.

HenryBG said :

sepi said :

Still – it is a big improvement now they don’t let them sleep in their cars all up the side of the federal hwy, and you would have to walk past them all pissing on the nature strip every morning.

Oh dear, people pissing. What would Queen Victoria say, if she knew people were pissing?

I think it was Queen Follett at that stage. She didn’t like to think about it.

Or anything much, really.

Jivrashia said :

Let me see if I get the logic…

Canberra yielded to the will (whinge) of the people who complain about the noise for a few hours a year, because it upset their pets.

Canberra ridicules the whinge (will) of people who complains about the noise for three days a year that personally upsets them.

My brain is full of fudd.

Maybe the problem is not that they arent banning summernats, but that they banned fireworks in the first place?

I live a couple of streets back from Northborne and yes, the noise increases a bit during Summernats, but I quite like it. There are worse things in the world than the throb of a supercharged V8, or having a car do a few donuts at the end of your street once a year.

It may not be your idea of fun, but it is for a lot of other people – harmless fun too, for the most part.

Live and let live.

sepi said :

There is also the minor inconvenience of having to pick bits of melted tyre off your washing or outdoor settings.

Still – it is a big improvement now they don’t let them sleep in their cars all up the side of the federal hwy, and you would have to walk past them all pissing on the nature strip every morning.

Oh dear, people pissing. What would Queen Victoria say, if she knew people were pissing?

Let me see if I get the logic…

Canberra yielded to the will (whinge) of the people who complain about the noise for a few hours a year, because it upset their pets.

Canberra ridicules the whinge (will) of people who complains about the noise for three days a year that personally upsets them.

My brain is full of fudd.

There is also the minor inconvenience of having to pick bits of melted tyre off your washing or outdoor settings.

Still – it is a big improvement now they don’t let them sleep in their cars all up the side of the federal hwy, and you would have to walk past them all pissing on the nature strip every morning.

Dork said :

…a bit of noise.

Like a puppy sneezing. How anyone could be offended is beyond belief.

Dork said :

vg said :

Interesting to read the posts of the self-interested bogans who either live with Mummy and Daddy, or in Tuggers, or both.

Having lived in Downer previously (about 200m in a straight line from the front door of EPIC), said house being built 25 years before Summernats started, I can say that whilst the noise and smoke may only be 3 days a year it doesn’t make it less annoying.

Perhaps I can find the naysayers someone to punch them in the face for ‘only’ 3 days a year.

Interestingly there are EP laws in the ACT that Summernats breached and admitted by paying the fines. Would that then not indicate a reasonable case for objection?

You may well advise a teaspoon of concrete to harden up. I’d advise a case full of fish oil to assist brain function for those that suggest the former

Wrong on all accounts!

Punching someone in the face is different from a bit of noise. Read my previous comments. My brain functions just fine. thankyou for being so concerned.

Additionally, it is amusing to see an ex-copper accuse others of being bogans….

vg said :

Interesting to read the posts of the self-interested bogans who either live with Mummy and Daddy, or in Tuggers, or both.

Having lived in Downer previously (about 200m in a straight line from the front door of EPIC), said house being built 25 years before Summernats started, I can say that whilst the noise and smoke may only be 3 days a year it doesn’t make it less annoying.

Perhaps I can find the naysayers someone to punch them in the face for ‘only’ 3 days a year.

Interestingly there are EP laws in the ACT that Summernats breached and admitted by paying the fines. Would that then not indicate a reasonable case for objection?

You may well advise a teaspoon of concrete to harden up. I’d advise a case full of fish oil to assist brain function for those that suggest the former

Wrong on all accounts!

Punching someone in the face is different from a bit of noise. Read my previous comments. My brain functions just fine. thankyou for being so concerned.

vg said :

Interesting to read the posts of the self-interested bogans who either live with Mummy and Daddy, or in Tuggers, or both.

Having lived in Downer previously (about 200m in a straight line from the front door of EPIC), said house being built 25 years before Summernats started, I can say that whilst the noise and smoke may only be 3 days a year it doesn’t make it less annoying.

The house may have been built just after the beginning of time but did you life there before summernats started? Let alone before epic park and the various shows that go on during the year?

vg said :

Perhaps I can find the naysayers someone to punch them in the face for ‘only’ 3 days a year.

Interestingly there are EP laws in the ACT that Summernats breached and admitted by paying the fines. Would that then not indicate a reasonable case for objection?

You may well advise a teaspoon of concrete to harden up. I’d advise a case full of fish oil to assist brain function for those that suggest the former

nimby

Interesting to read the posts of the self-interested bogans who either live with Mummy and Daddy, or in Tuggers, or both.

Having lived in Downer previously (about 200m in a straight line from the front door of EPIC), said house being built 25 years before Summernats started, I can say that whilst the noise and smoke may only be 3 days a year it doesn’t make it less annoying.

Perhaps I can find the naysayers someone to punch them in the face for ‘only’ 3 days a year.

Interestingly there are EP laws in the ACT that Summernats breached and admitted by paying the fines. Would that then not indicate a reasonable case for objection?

You may well advise a teaspoon of concrete to harden up. I’d advise a case full of fish oil to assist brain function for those that suggest the former

Skyring said :

DrKoresh said :

Skyring: 1st world problems bro, the idea you can call it “suffering” is a sick joke in itself, seriously, grow up a bit, eh? I hate SummerNats as much as you do, but I hate snobbery even more so and you, sir, are being a snob.

What makes you think I hate Summernats? Or anything? I detest bad behaviour, but there is a lot about Summernats to like – in my case the classic cars and the gentlemen, many of them my classic age, who have devoted decades to their cars. I cannot say that a P-plater in a rusty old Commodore shitbox turns me on, but a lovingly restored ’65 Mustang, and I drool.

As for “suffering”, I merely repeat the term used in recent Canberra opinion and letters pages. The suffering, discomfort and unhappiness exists, as expressed by the residents.

By ‘gentlemen’ i’m guessing you mean the old codgers giving rides to girls that are old enough to be their granddaughters?

I understand what you are trying to say, it’s the same with any other complaints that anything gets. If the good outweighs the bad it’s going to stay. A few people are not a community, it’s probably the same person writing them anyway.

DrKoresh said :

Skyring said :

powerpuffpete said :

Personally I enjoy a lot of the events in Canberra (bar Summernuts). I think a little bit of noise is worth it. And I strongly believe that if a majority of Canberrans feel the same way then, yeah, democratically the option to enjoy events should be made available.

So pleasure at the expense of someone else’s unhappiness is okay? So long as minorities are being harmed or suffering, the pleasure of the majority outweighs this?

Again, I make the point that we, as a community, put a lot of effort into relieving the suffering of tiny minorities. We pay for fire brigades to put out the fires of those very few Canberrans unlucky enough to have their house catch fire. We pay for hospitals to look after the few who are ill enough to need dedicated medical care.

And yet, those few who express genuine unhappiness over the invasions of noise, toxic smoke and louts are mocked and ridiculed and told that they are lucky. I don’t agree.

Skyring: 1st world problems bro, the idea you can call it “suffering” is a sick joke in itself, seriously, grow up a bit, eh? I hate SummerNats as much as you do, but I hate snobbery even more so and you, sir, are being a snob.

“Hello, is that Urban Services?”

“Yes, how may we help you”

“I have a noise complaint”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, my Tutsi neighbours have some Hutu visitors over, and the screaming is upsetting my cat”

DrKoresh said :

Skyring: 1st world problems bro, the idea you can call it “suffering” is a sick joke in itself, seriously, grow up a bit, eh? I hate SummerNats as much as you do, but I hate snobbery even more so and you, sir, are being a snob.

What makes you think I hate Summernats? Or anything? I detest bad behaviour, but there is a lot about Summernats to like – in my case the classic cars and the gentlemen, many of them my classic age, who have devoted decades to their cars. I cannot say that a P-plater in a rusty old Commodore shitbox turns me on, but a lovingly restored ’65 Mustang, and I drool.

As for “suffering”, I merely repeat the term used in recent Canberra opinion and letters pages. The suffering, discomfort and unhappiness exists, as expressed by the residents.

Skyring said :

powerpuffpete said :

Personally I enjoy a lot of the events in Canberra (bar Summernuts). I think a little bit of noise is worth it. And I strongly believe that if a majority of Canberrans feel the same way then, yeah, democratically the option to enjoy events should be made available.

So pleasure at the expense of someone else’s unhappiness is okay? So long as minorities are being harmed or suffering, the pleasure of the majority outweighs this?

Again, I make the point that we, as a community, put a lot of effort into relieving the suffering of tiny minorities. We pay for fire brigades to put out the fires of those very few Canberrans unlucky enough to have their house catch fire. We pay for hospitals to look after the few who are ill enough to need dedicated medical care.

And yet, those few who express genuine unhappiness over the invasions of noise, toxic smoke and louts are mocked and ridiculed and told that they are lucky. I don’t agree.

Skyring: 1st world problems bro, the idea you can call it “suffering” is a sick joke in itself, seriously, grow up a bit, eh? I hate SummerNats as much as you do, but I hate snobbery even more so and you, sir, are being a snob.

fabforty said :

How hard is it ? Try having someone park in your driveway for four days and constantly rev their car, and I mean CONSTANTLY. Then they do a few dozen burnouts. Then they turn their car stereo up as far as it will go. You will need to put up with this for about four days straight. You can’t open a window or door because the air stinks so bad. Regardless of the noise level of our usual day-to-day lives, this is totally unacceptable.

You also need to pay for security because in previous years these losers have walked around your complex smashing anything they can and p*ssing on your front door.

And for those who say “Summernats was here first”, check your history. Watson is arguably the oldest suburb in Canberra.

If they are on your property you can call the police (this is the reason we have police)
as for doing burnouts, i’ll listen to your complaints once you have gone outside and actually tried to get the number plate of the dickhead doing it. This would be the same for every other day of the year. The reason for summernats is to have a place where people can do it LEGALLY. This is in regards to the noise level of the EVENT, not the noise level of dickheads on your street ruining it for everybody.

I never said they were making it up, or that they are lucky. I’m saying that you have to understand that noise levels is something that everybody has to deal with, not just people who live next to high profile events. Stop making it sound like you are special just because there is an event going on. There are noisy people everywhere.

Evil_Kitten said :

Skyring said :

as a community

As a community we should all have a bit of give and take! There are plenty of events that I don’t care about (like that stupid flower show) and inconvenience me but I deal with it. Perhaps the people who hear a burnout or two or a loud engine could do the same instead of whinging.

It’s only a few days – how hard is it??

So it’s more than just “a burnout or two”. It’s a few days – and nights – of unwanted noise and pollution. It’s inflicting unhappiness on other people that bothers me.

Sure, there’s a bit of give and take in every community. Everyone knows and accepts that. My feeling is that those Watson residents who are upset enough to lodge complaints regard their discomfort and unhappiness as going beyond the normal “give and take”.

Otherwise they wouldn’t bother to complain.

I’m especially amused by the attempts at spin-doctoring – “Oh, it’s just a little bit of engine noise. They are really lucky compared to people in war zones.”

And yes, I’m happily trolling to see who bites. That’s what this site is all about, yeah?

fabforty said :

How hard is it ? Try having someone park in your driveway for four days and constantly rev their car, and I mean CONSTANTLY. Then they do a few dozen burnouts. Then they turn their car stereo up as far as it will go. You will need to put up with this for about four days straight. You can’t open a window or door because the air stinks so bad. Regardless of the noise level of our usual day-to-day lives, this is totally unacceptable.

You also need to pay for security because in previous years these losers have walked around your complex smashing anything they can and p*ssing on your front door.

And for those who say “Summernats was here first”, check your history. Watson is arguably the oldest suburb in Canberra.

Bloody hell, where do you live? Summernats front gate? lol

I’m guessing you’re in those apartments on the Federal Highway? So while Watson may be the oldest suburb in Canberra, they’re certainly not.

But yes, I agree, that’s unacceptable. Why were they parked in the driveway for 4 days, were they staying with one of your neighbours? Did you call the police?

chewy14 said :

Skyring is doing a great effort of trolling here.

Surely no one is really affected this much by a few nights of noise every year?

They are just making it up. They really enjoy all that burnt tyre smoke. Those complaints they make to the government, they are just to stir things up. Those heartfelt letters to the editor – just a bit of fun. Secretly they are laughing on the inside, closet revheads.

If it’s someone else’s pain, it doesn’t count, right?

It’s not my problem, and I wasn’t affected at all by Summernats this year. But there was no mistaking the unhappiness of some Watson residents, and there is no mistaking the bizarre attitude of some here who think that Watson folk were lucky to have suffered.

How hard is it ? Try having someone park in your driveway for four days and constantly rev their car, and I mean CONSTANTLY. Then they do a few dozen burnouts. Then they turn their car stereo up as far as it will go. You will need to put up with this for about four days straight. You can’t open a window or door because the air stinks so bad. Regardless of the noise level of our usual day-to-day lives, this is totally unacceptable.

You also need to pay for security because in previous years these losers have walked around your complex smashing anything they can and p*ssing on your front door.

And for those who say “Summernats was here first”, check your history. Watson is arguably the oldest suburb in Canberra.

Skyring said :

Dork said :

Skyring said :

powerpuffpete said :

Sorry, I really don’t agree that being inconvenienced by noise is the same as being attacked by a burgler or rapist. That’s disproportionate. I think the original point joey was making is that Watson is probably generally a pretty good place to live, which is why he mentions being “fortunate”. If the residents there didn’t agree, I’m not sure what reason they would have had for moving there in the first place, or continuing to live there long term.

I’m sorry you thought I was equating several different things, such as burglary and rape and Summernats. Not at all. Just the feelings of unhappiness created by the different events. If a Watson resident says that their lives are miserable each Summernats due to noise, toxic smoke, loutish behaviour and all the rest of it, then who are we to say that they are mistaken?

It’s akin to telling the victim of a burglary that they are insured, so just suck it up and use the insurance money to buy something better and be glad it wasn’t worse, you lucky bastard!

Or telling famine victims in Africa that they should be pleased with their weightloss program.

Ridiculing the suffering of other people is pretty low, in my opinion.

I fail to believe that people who have to deal with a bit of noise a few days a year can be considered “suffering”. The ridiculing comes from the fact they actually believe they are suffering. You cannot compare these situations as they are nothing alike.

They say they are suffering and unhappy, but you don’t believe them. You know better than they do. Right.

No, YOU say that they are ‘suffering’. No one I know that lives near these events has ever described their dislike for the noise as ‘suffering’, more just a fact of life, which it is. How are they possibly suffering? what is the worst that they have to deal with? a bit of noise for a few nights a year? you have to be joking if you consider this suffering, every person that lives in a city has to deal with this for the reason that: people make noise

Why don’t we not have planes either, they fly over my house? Oh wait, I chose to live here, knowing that planes will fly over. FACT OF LIFE.

I think you are overreacting a little bit. Just a smidge.

old people 🙁

Skyring said :

as a community

As a community we should all have a bit of give and take! There are plenty of events that I don’t care about (like that stupid flower show) and inconvenience me but I deal with it. Perhaps the people who hear a burnout or two or a loud engine could do the same instead of whinging.

It’s only a few days – how hard is it??

Or perhaps we can all complain about every single event held in Canberra and end up with NOTHING. No Nats, no Floriade, no festivals, no concerts in the park, no NYE fireworks in Civic and the list goes on. We will be known as the most boring city in Australia (oh wait… we already are) and we can all sit in our houses in dead silence.

Skyring is doing a great effort of trolling here.

Surely no one is really affected this much by a few nights of noise every year?

Oh wait, I just remembered how we used to have fireworks until the whingers had their way.

Deep breaths, Skyring.

Dork said :

Skyring said :

powerpuffpete said :

Sorry, I really don’t agree that being inconvenienced by noise is the same as being attacked by a burgler or rapist. That’s disproportionate. I think the original point joey was making is that Watson is probably generally a pretty good place to live, which is why he mentions being “fortunate”. If the residents there didn’t agree, I’m not sure what reason they would have had for moving there in the first place, or continuing to live there long term.

I’m sorry you thought I was equating several different things, such as burglary and rape and Summernats. Not at all. Just the feelings of unhappiness created by the different events. If a Watson resident says that their lives are miserable each Summernats due to noise, toxic smoke, loutish behaviour and all the rest of it, then who are we to say that they are mistaken?

It’s akin to telling the victim of a burglary that they are insured, so just suck it up and use the insurance money to buy something better and be glad it wasn’t worse, you lucky bastard!

Or telling famine victims in Africa that they should be pleased with their weightloss program.

Ridiculing the suffering of other people is pretty low, in my opinion.

I fail to believe that people who have to deal with a bit of noise a few days a year can be considered “suffering”. The ridiculing comes from the fact they actually believe they are suffering. You cannot compare these situations as they are nothing alike.

They say they are suffering and unhappy, but you don’t believe them. You know better than they do. Right.

KB1971 said :

Skyring said :

KB1971 said :

I actually think that all the complaints we hear about are from a minority rather than the majority but that is more my disbelief in the media & he said/she said gossop more than anything else.

Do you see misery and unhappiness as like a democracy? If most people are happy, then that’s okay?

Or should we look at those who are not happy and see how we can help them?

After all, only a few people are sick or injured. Most of the community are fine and healthy.

Yet still we have hospitals and doctors. We have a fire brigade for that tiny minority of Canberrans whose houses burn down. They should just suck it up instead of whining and we could all save a lot of money on insurance and rates and taxes, right?

No I see that there are groups that have self interest at hand when they get on the media & shed negative light on an event.

Just like you are now, you are promoting the fact that the residents of Watson are supposedly disadvantaged by on event. You are dramatising the fact to get your point across, but you are presenting no facts.

The complaints to the government, the letters to the editor, they are there for all to see and read. They have been going on for twenty-five years. Of course there is self-interest. These people who live closest to the Summernats venue do not wish to endure the noise, smoke and antisocial behaviour that goes on.

Are you somehow saying that these people are lying, and they really actually enjoy Summernats? Or are you demeaning and ridiculing and mocking them, because you do not wish to address their unhappiness?

powerpuffpete said :

Personally I enjoy a lot of the events in Canberra (bar Summernuts). I think a little bit of noise is worth it. And I strongly believe that if a majority of Canberrans feel the same way then, yeah, democratically the option to enjoy events should be made available.

So pleasure at the expense of someone else’s unhappiness is okay? So long as minorities are being harmed or suffering, the pleasure of the majority outweighs this?

Again, I make the point that we, as a community, put a lot of effort into relieving the suffering of tiny minorities. We pay for fire brigades to put out the fires of those very few Canberrans unlucky enough to have their house catch fire. We pay for hospitals to look after the few who are ill enough to need dedicated medical care.

And yet, those few who express genuine unhappiness over the invasions of noise, toxic smoke and louts are mocked and ridiculed and told that they are lucky. I don’t agree.

Skyring said :

powerpuffpete said :

Sorry, I really don’t agree that being inconvenienced by noise is the same as being attacked by a burgler or rapist. That’s disproportionate. I think the original point joey was making is that Watson is probably generally a pretty good place to live, which is why he mentions being “fortunate”. If the residents there didn’t agree, I’m not sure what reason they would have had for moving there in the first place, or continuing to live there long term.

I’m sorry you thought I was equating several different things, such as burglary and rape and Summernats. Not at all. Just the feelings of unhappiness created by the different events. If a Watson resident says that their lives are miserable each Summernats due to noise, toxic smoke, loutish behaviour and all the rest of it, then who are we to say that they are mistaken?

It’s akin to telling the victim of a burglary that they are insured, so just suck it up and use the insurance money to buy something better and be glad it wasn’t worse, you lucky bastard!

Or telling famine victims in Africa that they should be pleased with their weightloss program.

Ridiculing the suffering of other people is pretty low, in my opinion.

I fail to believe that people who have to deal with a bit of noise a few days a year can be considered “suffering”. The ridiculing comes from the fact they actually believe they are suffering. You cannot compare these situations as they are nothing alike.

powerpuffpete said :

Sorry, I really don’t agree that being inconvenienced by noise is the same as being attacked by a burgler or rapist. That’s disproportionate. I think the original point joey was making is that Watson is probably generally a pretty good place to live, which is why he mentions being “fortunate”. If the residents there didn’t agree, I’m not sure what reason they would have had for moving there in the first place, or continuing to live there long term.

I’m sorry you thought I was equating several different things, such as burglary and rape and Summernats. Not at all. Just the feelings of unhappiness created by the different events. If a Watson resident says that their lives are miserable each Summernats due to noise, toxic smoke, loutish behaviour and all the rest of it, then who are we to say that they are mistaken?

It’s akin to telling the victim of a burglary that they are insured, so just suck it up and use the insurance money to buy something better and be glad it wasn’t worse, you lucky bastard!

Or telling famine victims in Africa that they should be pleased with their weightloss program.

Ridiculing the suffering of other people is pretty low, in my opinion.

poetix said :

Stevian said :

Dork said :

That is so silly. Like everybody doesn’t hear a car hooning along their street every now and then? Or someone blasting their music till early morning? It’s the same thing, you just have to deal with it, they are not going to get rid of loud cars or stereos or even people with loud voices anytime soon, so people just suck it up. Why can’t these people? I say have a teaspoon of concrete and harden up.

You deal with by taking legal recourse to stop it. I’ve had neighbours evicted for making to much noise.

What were they doing, laughing? Playing with their kids? Don’t tell me they had (distasteful swallow) pets?

Chummy was screaming while beating his wife. After the police had been called out a half dozen times, I assume the landlord had had enough (if he was any way involved) or they moved on of their own accord. Either way they were gone

powerpuffpete said :

I agree with the others on the EPA argument. The only other thing I’m wondering is if Canberra is somewhat flatter than other cities. The North side is pretty flat and I’ve noticed noise travels. When I was living in Lyneham I remember I could hear gigs all the way from UC. I haven’t had that problem since moving to Belconnen, which is odd considering that UC is closer.

Personally I enjoy a lot of the events in Canberra (bar Summernuts). I think a little bit of noise is worth it. And I strongly believe that if a majority of Canberrans feel the same way then, yeah, democratically the option to enjoy events should be made available.

The inner city areas of other much larger cities have far greater background noise than Canberra. Also, places like Sydney have the Sydney Entertainment Centre & Hombush which have purpose built, large areas to hold major event in. A numer of these are inside which diminishes the noise quite a bit.

Also for summernats, a lot of young boys go there. Wont this mean teaching them about the appropriate time and place for things like this? So when they get older they look forward to summernats to go wild in their cars rather than all year round all over town?

Sorry, I really don’t agree that being inconvenienced by noise is the same as being attacked by a burgler or rapist. That’s disproportionate. I think the original point joey was making is that Watson is probably generally a pretty good place to live, which is why he mentions being “fortunate”. If the residents there didn’t agree, I’m not sure what reason they would have had for moving there in the first place, or continuing to live there long term.

There are a few measured approaches that may be taken if the inconvenience is perceived as full on misery (which I think is an extreme emotional response). You could consider sound proofing via hedging, writing to relevant parties to introduce speedbumps if you find people hoon down your street too much, and moving is extreme but if you’re feeling miserable I’d probably say it’s worth considering moving to a quieter neighbourhood.

I agree with the others on the EPA argument. The only other thing I’m wondering is if Canberra is somewhat flatter than other cities. The North side is pretty flat and I’ve noticed noise travels. When I was living in Lyneham I remember I could hear gigs all the way from UC. I haven’t had that problem since moving to Belconnen, which is odd considering that UC is closer.

Personally I enjoy a lot of the events in Canberra (bar Summernuts). I think a little bit of noise is worth it. And I strongly believe that if a majority of Canberrans feel the same way then, yeah, democratically the option to enjoy events should be made available.

Skyring said :

KB1971 said :

I actually think that all the complaints we hear about are from a minority rather than the majority but that is more my disbelief in the media & he said/she said gossop more than anything else.

Do you see misery and unhappiness as like a democracy? If most people are happy, then that’s okay?

Or should we look at those who are not happy and see how we can help them?

After all, only a few people are sick or injured. Most of the community are fine and healthy.

Yet still we have hospitals and doctors. We have a fire brigade for that tiny minority of Canberrans whose houses burn down. They should just suck it up instead of whining and we could all save a lot of money on insurance and rates and taxes, right?

No I see that there are groups that have self interest at hand when they get on the media & shed negative light on an event.

Just like you are now, you are promoting the fact that the residents of Watson are supposedly disadvantaged by on event. You are dramatising the fact to get your point across, but you are presenting no facts.

How many people does the Summernats keep up at night?
Is the lung cancer rate increasing because of Summernats?
What is the cost of the damage caused?

So far in this thread we have had one resident pipe up & say they have had issues. The type of issue is the same type of issue that any holiday destination goes through year in year out (ask the residents of Batemans Bay).

If all the residents of Watson were so bad off for the 3 days of the year, there would be a hell of a lot more action and leverage placed onto the government to stop or relocate the event.

So as with anything in Australia, there is always a minority that will piss & moan about anything & nothing.

I dont know all the facts so please educate me but leave the emotion out of it (thats why I asked so many questions that are still unanswered in my first reply…….)

Skyring said :

KB1971 said :

I actually think that all the complaints we hear about are from a minority rather than the majority but that is more my disbelief in the media & he said/she said gossop more than anything else.

Do you see misery and unhappiness as like a democracy? If most people are happy, then that’s okay?

Or should we look at those who are not happy and see how we can help them?

After all, only a few people are sick or injured. Most of the community are fine and healthy.

Yet still we have hospitals and doctors. We have a fire brigade for that tiny minority of Canberrans whose houses burn down. They should just suck it up instead of whining and we could all save a lot of money on insurance and rates and taxes, right?

That is a completely different situation, there are lives at risk. A bit of noise is not going to kill you.

Skyring said :

Dork said :

Getting someone kicked out because they have a healthy (not crazy wild party animal) social life is really just a crap thing to do to someone.

And yet we see people here all but kicking the innocent residents of Watson off to Tasmania or other far away places. Is that not a crap thing to wish on someone?

No one is kicking them anywhere, they have a choice whether to stay there or not, they’re are saying that if you want peace and quiet 24/7 every day of the year, you are not going to get it here.

It’s more like saying, I have hayfever and can’t walk round the lake when floriade is on, so instead of changing where I walk, i’m going to get the event cancelled.

I also like how everyone is quick to attack where they hold the events each year but no one is providing a solution.

KB1971 said :

I actually think that all the complaints we hear about are from a minority rather than the majority but that is more my disbelief in the media & he said/she said gossop more than anything else.

Do you see misery and unhappiness as like a democracy? If most people are happy, then that’s okay?

Or should we look at those who are not happy and see how we can help them?

After all, only a few people are sick or injured. Most of the community are fine and healthy.

Yet still we have hospitals and doctors. We have a fire brigade for that tiny minority of Canberrans whose houses burn down. They should just suck it up instead of whining and we could all save a lot of money on insurance and rates and taxes, right?

Some of my most exciting moments have been done in silence, so no-one discovers us.

Skyring said :

KB1971 said :

I have always wondered this? Which residents are actualy complianing? Is it the ones who line Northbourne/Barton Hwy &/or are within a couple of streets of one of the busiest roads in Canberra? If so then how is the noise really that different?

The residents that are further would defiantely notice an increase as their background noise is less but having said that, these suburbs are in the middle of the busiest part of Canberra. Living in town coes with noise, antisocial behavoir on the other hand is a different thing.

Its appears to be hypocrytical, bit like the residents of Majura whinging about the noise of a drag strip when the airport is right there.

I’m guessing that you are a resident of neither place, and are therefore talking from a low level of knowledge about the facts.

My understanding is that the unhappiness with the noise and the smoke is genuine, as are the complaints about them.

Correct but an ex girlfriend lived in Blackett St in Downer way back when there used to be a Supercruise & the noise levels really were no different other than there were more V8’s so I have experinence the whole Summernats thing in the north of the city BUT I accepted it. My veiw was that, yep, its noisy but it is noisy all year round so it made no difference to me.

I am definately one that likes quiet suburbs hence why I live in Lanyon right on the edge away from the thouroghfares.

People do have a choice to move if they wish, if they have bought in the last 25 years they knew the Summernats was on once a year.

I actually think that all the complaints we hear about are from a minority rather than the majority but that is more my disbelief in the media & he said/she said gossop more than anything else.

Dork said :

Getting someone kicked out because they have a healthy (not crazy wild party animal) social life is really just a crap thing to do to someone.

And yet we see people here all but kicking the innocent residents of Watson off to Tasmania or other far away places. Is that not a crap thing to wish on someone?

Stevian said :

Dork said :

That is so silly. Like everybody doesn’t hear a car hooning along their street every now and then? Or someone blasting their music till early morning? It’s the same thing, you just have to deal with it, they are not going to get rid of loud cars or stereos or even people with loud voices anytime soon, so people just suck it up. Why can’t these people? I say have a teaspoon of concrete and harden up.

You deal with by taking legal recourse to stop it. I’ve had neighbours evicted for making to much noise.

Wow, it would suck to your neighbour. It depends on the situation, if your neighbours are outside everynight till early morning yelling and playing music, not responding to your asking them to keep it down. That’s fair enough, it’s a serious hit to your lifestyle if you can’t sleep during normal hours. If they did it once or twice every six months, then you are just being unreasonable, and just really quite horrible. Getting someone kicked out because they have a healthy (not crazy wild party animal) social life is really just a crap thing to do to someone. That fact is that these events are yearly not weekly or daily or even monthly. Also, I believe there are only certain things that you can complain about, if they are swearing or there is loud music.

G-Fresh said :

hahaha what a bunch of whingers! Try living in the west bank for a while

I think this post takes the prize for the biggest pointless dribble, irrespective of whether the poster has lived in the West Bank or not.

I live in Watson and, on the whole, Summernats is inconvenient and annoying at the time, but as other people said, you generally accept it’s just four days a year and don’t worry about it too much.

What I didn’t appreciate is the year some idiots came into our complex and decided it would be fun to smash all the lights and use the pool and leave broken bottles etc. everywhere.

It was also fun that the next couple of years we had to pay for security for the complex over Summernats so that it didn’t happen again.

But this year was quite uneventful apart from the usual hoons, loud noise, and people staggering around drunk.

Stevian said :

Dork said :

That is so silly. Like everybody doesn’t hear a car hooning along their street every now and then? Or someone blasting their music till early morning? It’s the same thing, you just have to deal with it, they are not going to get rid of loud cars or stereos or even people with loud voices anytime soon, so people just suck it up. Why can’t these people? I say have a teaspoon of concrete and harden up.

You deal with by taking legal recourse to stop it. I’ve had neighbours evicted for making to much noise.

What were they doing, laughing? Playing with their kids? Don’t tell me they had (distasteful swallow) pets?

Dork said :

That is so silly. Like everybody doesn’t hear a car hooning along their street every now and then? Or someone blasting their music till early morning? It’s the same thing, you just have to deal with it, they are not going to get rid of loud cars or stereos or even people with loud voices anytime soon, so people just suck it up. Why can’t these people? I say have a teaspoon of concrete and harden up.

You deal with by taking legal recourse to stop it. I’ve had neighbours evicted for making to much noise.

powerpuffpete said :

Skyring said :

joeyjojojuniorshabadoo said :

Skyring said :

The people I feel most sorry for are those Watson residents who have been putting up with twenty five years of Summernats. Every year we see the same complaints from the same people about noise, smoke, loutish behaviour etc. Where does the government stand on deliberately inflicting misery on these folk, albeit by proxy?

If the worst thing in your life is putting up with Summernats for one weekend a year, consider yourself fortunate.

That’s like telling someone who has been burgled that they are lucky they weren’t raped as well. Such lucky people!

Nope, it’s not like that at all.

Oh yes it is

G-Fresh said :

hahaha what a bunch of whingers! Try living in the west bank for a while

Ah yes. This is the same argument as before. Other people have it worse, so you are lucky to be miserable. It is still unconvincing.

legal_chick86 said :

If you want the quiet life with no noice… move out of town. Better yet – move to Tasmania!

Summernats is for 3 days once a year.. get over it! Go away for the weekend! I am afraid i am with joeyjojojuniorshabad on this!

Skyring – there is a bit of a difference to puttign up with some smoke and noise to being burgled or raped!!

Indeed. But the unhappiness is the same and it is genuine. Indeed, victims of rape or burglary or pollution or any other misery should get over it. But they should hardly be expected to deal with the same misery over and over through no fault of their own.

Of course, it’s easy to tell other people to move away from their homes, employment, friends, family and community.

But I don’t see these urgers offering to pay for it. That’s not quite so easy.

If you want the quiet life with no noice… move out of town. Better yet – move to Tasmania!

Summernats is for 3 days once a year.. get over it! Go away for the weekend! I am afraid i am with joeyjojojuniorshabad on this!

Skyring – there is a bit of a difference to puttign up with some smoke and noise to being burgled or raped!

Dork – i agree!

Dork said :

That is so silly. Like everybody doesn’t hear a car hooning along their street every now and then? Or someone blasting their music till early morning? It’s the same thing, you just have to deal with it, they are not going to get rid of loud cars or stereos or even people with loud voices anytime soon, so people just suck it up. Why can’t these people? I say have a teaspoon of concrete and harden up.

You’re one of Julia’s PR staff. I can tell.

hahaha what a bunch of whingers! Try living in the west bank for a while

KB1971 said :

I have always wondered this? Which residents are actualy complianing? Is it the ones who line Northbourne/Barton Hwy &/or are within a couple of streets of one of the busiest roads in Canberra? If so then how is the noise really that different?

The residents that are further would defiantely notice an increase as their background noise is less but having said that, these suburbs are in the middle of the busiest part of Canberra. Living in town coes with noise, antisocial behavoir on the other hand is a different thing.

Its appears to be hypocrytical, bit like the residents of Majura whinging about the noise of a drag strip when the airport is right there.

I’m guessing that you are a resident of neither place, and are therefore talking from a low level of knowledge about the facts.

My understanding is that the unhappiness with the noise and the smoke is genuine, as are the complaints about them.

Skyring said :

Solidarity said :

Skyring said :

The people I feel most sorry for are those Watson residents who have been putting up with twenty five years of Summernats. Every year we see the same complaints from the same people about noise, smoke, loutish behaviour etc. Where does the government stand on deliberately inflicting misery on these folk, albeit by proxy?

I’d say a vast majority of Watson residents would have known about Summernats before moving in.

That’s not the point. The residents there are complaining about excessive noise and noxious smoke pollution. Their misery is real. Are we, as a community, so callous that we think it’s okay to inflict unhappiness on a part of the community so that another part can experience pleasure?

No, that’s not the point.
Resident complaints should have little bearing on what the EPA does.
Every event should have to comply to set standards and if they break them they should get penalised.

I think myself and a lot of other people would like an order of occupancy rule so that events and venues that were in a location first should not have their restrictions increased when people move closer and closer to where they are.

Interesting that the CMD gets off while other events get fined.

That is so silly. Like everybody doesn’t hear a car hooning along their street every now and then? Or someone blasting their music till early morning? It’s the same thing, you just have to deal with it, they are not going to get rid of loud cars or stereos or even people with loud voices anytime soon, so people just suck it up. Why can’t these people? I say have a teaspoon of concrete and harden up.

powerpuffpete said :

Skyring said :

joeyjojojuniorshabadoo said :

Skyring said :

The people I feel most sorry for are those Watson residents who have been putting up with twenty five years of Summernats. Every year we see the same complaints from the same people about noise, smoke, loutish behaviour etc. Where does the government stand on deliberately inflicting misery on these folk, albeit by proxy?

If the worst thing in your life is putting up with Summernats for one weekend a year, consider yourself fortunate.

That’s like telling someone who has been burgled that they are lucky they weren’t raped as well. Such lucky people!

Nope, it’s not like that at all.

Telling miserable people that they are lucky? There may be different reasons for the misery, but it’s the same misery, surely?

Dork said :

You have got to be kidding me. They chose to live there for my first point, if they have such a big problem with noise, buy a house in the middle of nowhere. People are too sensitive these days. You can’t handle a bit of noise? It’s one week of the year, some of the events listed are one night a year. All of the events list have a finish time of 11-2 at the latest, You are not missing an entire nights sleep. During summernats maybe, but in that case it’s certain people not everybody involved in the event hoons around all night. You need to get your ears checked, they are to sensitive.

I don’t live in Watson and my hearing degraded long ago. But I like to think that I am sensitive to the unhappiness of other people – for whatever reason – and would like to see them happy and comfortable. I would like to see everybody happy, if at all possible.

Solidarity said :

Skyring said :

The people I feel most sorry for are those Watson residents who have been putting up with twenty five years of Summernats. Every year we see the same complaints from the same people about noise, smoke, loutish behaviour etc. Where does the government stand on deliberately inflicting misery on these folk, albeit by proxy?

I’d say a vast majority of Watson residents would have known about Summernats before moving in.

That’s not the point. The residents there are complaining about excessive noise and noxious smoke pollution. Their misery is real. Are we, as a community, so callous that we think it’s okay to inflict unhappiness on a part of the community so that another part can experience pleasure?

Sounds like some heads might be better off back up the rear ends from whence they came.

Dork said :

You have got to be kidding me. They chose to live there for my first point, if they have such a big problem with noise, buy a house in the middle of nowhere. People are too sensitive these days. You can’t handle a bit of noise? It’s one week of the year, some of the events listed are one night a year. All of the events list have a finish time of 11-2 at the latest, You are not missing an entire nights sleep. During summernats maybe, but in that case it’s certain people not everybody involved in the event hoons around all night. You need to get your ears checked, they are to sensitive.

I have always wondered this? Which residents are actualy complianing? Is it the ones who line Northbourne/Barton Hwy &/or are within a couple of streets of one of the busiest roads in Canberra? If so then how is the noise really that different?

The residents that are further would defiantely notice an increase as their background noise is less but having said that, these suburbs are in the middle of the busiest part of Canberra. Living in town coes with noise, antisocial behavoir on the other hand is a different thing.

Its appears to be hypocrytical, bit like the residents of Majura whinging about the noise of a drag strip when the airport is right there.

You have got to be kidding me. They chose to live there for my first point, if they have such a big problem with noise, buy a house in the middle of nowhere. People are too sensitive these days. You can’t handle a bit of noise? It’s one week of the year, some of the events listed are one night a year. All of the events list have a finish time of 11-2 at the latest, You are not missing an entire nights sleep. During summernats maybe, but in that case it’s certain people not everybody involved in the event hoons around all night. You need to get your ears checked, they are to sensitive.

Skyring said :

Problem being, loud concerts now have to be restricted to silly times (ending ridiculously early), and – Canberra has a particular problem with this one – venues that host live music get shut down because residences have moved into the area post-factum and started complaining.

Skyring said :

The people I feel most sorry for are those Watson residents who have been putting up with twenty five years of Summernats. Every year we see the same complaints from the same people about noise, smoke, loutish behaviour etc. Where does the government stand on deliberately inflicting misery on these folk, albeit by proxy?

I’d say a vast majority of Watson residents would have known about Summernats before moving in.

buzz819 said :

Yeah, we should hold Summernats in the Manuka Taxi Rank.

There’s only two places in Canberra that are worth “cruising”. The Braddon/Civic area, and Manuka/Kingston. I used to enjoy watching the fancy lowered cars cruise along the speed bumps in Manuka. Every now and then someone from interstate would have their eyes on the cafe tables not the road and hit the big bump on Franklin Street with a satisfying wallop.

Skyring said :

joeyjojojuniorshabadoo said :

Skyring said :

The people I feel most sorry for are those Watson residents who have been putting up with twenty five years of Summernats. Every year we see the same complaints from the same people about noise, smoke, loutish behaviour etc. Where does the government stand on deliberately inflicting misery on these folk, albeit by proxy?

If the worst thing in your life is putting up with Summernats for one weekend a year, consider yourself fortunate.

That’s like telling someone who has been burgled that they are lucky they weren’t raped as well. Such lucky people!

Nope, it’s not like that at all.

joeyjojojuniorshabadoo said :

Skyring said :

The people I feel most sorry for are those Watson residents who have been putting up with twenty five years of Summernats. Every year we see the same complaints from the same people about noise, smoke, loutish behaviour etc. Where does the government stand on deliberately inflicting misery on these folk, albeit by proxy?

If the worst thing in your life is putting up with Summernats for one weekend a year, consider yourself fortunate.

That’s like telling someone who has been burgled that they are lucky they weren’t raped as well. Such lucky people!

Skyring said :

I don’t have to make a lot of noise when I’m having an exciting time…

I wish I got the room next to you in hotels.

joeyjojojuniorshabadoo said :

Skyring said :

The people I feel most sorry for are those Watson residents who have been putting up with twenty five years of Summernats. Every year we see the same complaints from the same people about noise, smoke, loutish behaviour etc. Where does the government stand on deliberately inflicting misery on these folk, albeit by proxy?

If the worst thing in your life is putting up with Summernats for one weekend a year, consider yourself fortunate.

Yeah, we should hold Summernats in the Manuka Taxi Rank.

Skyring said :

The people I feel most sorry for are those Watson residents who have been putting up with twenty five years of Summernats. Every year we see the same complaints from the same people about noise, smoke, loutish behaviour etc. Where does the government stand on deliberately inflicting misery on these folk, albeit by proxy?

If the worst thing in your life is putting up with Summernats for one weekend a year, consider yourself fortunate.

I don’t have to make a lot of noise when I’m having an exciting time. No do I emit a lot of smoke and firecrackers.

Loud concerts are one thing, but just as mowing your lawn at three in the morning is generally frowned upon by the neighbours, loud concerts during the reasonable sleeping hours of nearby residents are antisocial.

The people I feel most sorry for are those Watson residents who have been putting up with twenty five years of Summernats. Every year we see the same complaints from the same people about noise, smoke, loutish behaviour etc. Where does the government stand on deliberately inflicting misery on these folk, albeit by proxy?

In all fairness when these events are held in Canberra, the EPA puts a condition on their permits saying they can’t go above a certain noise level, if they do, they get fined.

Seems fine to me.