News : SLAM wins again for musos in Melbourne

Musicians in Melbourne have had another win thanks to activists Save Live Australia’s Music (SLAM), with The Yarra City Council this time announcing that they will waive parking restrictions in front of venues. The City of Yarra covers suburbs such as Richmond (Central Club, Corner Hotel), Collingwood (The Tote) and Fitzroy (Evelyn, Old Bar, who all house important live venues for both heavy metal and the rest of the live music scene in Melbourne.

The Melbourne Times Weekly reported…

“MUSOS won’t have to worry about parking fines while they set up for gigs in the City of Yarra, as the council has agreed to waive parking restrictions in front of venues.

The agreement, struck by Music Victoria and Save Live Australia’s Music, means musicians using their own cars will be able to use loading zones in front of live music venues throughout the inner-northern suburbs. Venues will be issued with loading zone parking permits, which will be passed on to bands playing at the venues.

“I don’t know how many times

musos have lost their gig money and then some from a parking ticket, but it’s lots,” new Tote owner Jon Perring said.

He said he hoped other councils would follow suit.

“It’s a small thing but has real practical value.”

Music Victoria chief executive Patrick Donovan said bands should be treated the same as other small businesses.

“Musicians are at the lower end of the socio-economic scale, and it seemed grossly unfair that they could go into a gig ‘in the red’ for simply trying to promote their shows and unload their equipment.”

Yarra mayor Jane Garrett said the council and Music Victoria would compile a list of local live music venues, and the council’s parking office would issue permits for them to distribute to bands.

She said the council intended to make the process as easy as possible. “This is one really practical way in which local government can help.”

The council is also considering installing bollards around the city, so musicians can legally paste up posters to promote their shows.“

For more information about SLAM, please visit http://www.slamrally.org/.