What utter rubbish emanates from lobbyists seeking later hours for drinking and dining in the Queenstown CBD. 

To bolster their advocacy they rant about curfews and council rules and restrictions. 

The fact is it’s not possible to control outdoor noise. You either move to guard against it after certain hours – or ban all residential accommodation in the CBD. I’m talking hotels, motels, backpackers, apartments, flats – the lot.
Furthermore, does it take more than normal intelligence to understand that it is impossible to soundproof outdoor noise? 

And isn’t the promotion of later hours for outdoor drinking and dining the antithesis of good planning? 

The best critique I’ve read on this issue dates back to August 2002 when an official from Queenstown Lakes District Council’s then regulatory body CivicCorp considered an application for outdoor areas by a downtown bar. 

The official wrote: “The environmental health report emphasises that there is no way to place physical controls on noise occurring from patrons seated outdoors. While they are indoors greater insulation, self-closing doors and noise foyers can all reduce the level and intensity of noise. However, when people are outside the only way in which the applicant can reduce the noise levels is by asking patrons to make less noise. This is not a form of mitigation that can be objectively measured, effectively enforced or relied upon. Consequently, to ensure compliance with the night-time noise standards all patrons are required to be inside by 10pm.” 

Pretty simple stuff, in reality. 

You cannot soundproof outdoor noise. The whole issue can be re­­­solved by decent building insul­­ation and a move indoors at 10pm. 

Take it from me – Warren Cooper is no party pooper but expecting the council to manage outdoor noise complaints is no more than a “you must be dreaming” vision. 

Rather than enhancing the vibrancy of the ‘party town’ image, the mindless pursuance of later outdoor dining is likely to exacerbate tension between purveyors of food and booze and the rights and expectations of those nearly 3000 people who – when it’s the busy season – can overnight in the CBD. 

It is abundantly clear the quality of the night scene outdoors in the Queenstown CBD has deteriorated rapidly during recent years. 

Any liberalisation to provide later outdoor dining will ricochet throughout the massively increased number of competing bars and restaurants. 

Methinks the matter is best left alone. 

Warren Cooper is a former Queenstown mayor and National cabinet minister