Eden Park Concerts
Prior to 2021, amplified concerts were not permitted at Eden Park. In 2020/21, MDA was instrumental in assisting the Eden Park Trust Board gain concerts for 6 concerts per year.
Noise modelling showed that loud rock concerts could comply with the typical noise limits used at other stadia around New Zealand at the residential boundary. MDA has subsequently monitored all concerts held at the park. In 2024, consent was obtained to hold 12 concerts per year following widespread community support and a small group against. Ongoing monitoring has showed consistent compliance at a series of successful concerts.
CLIENT
Eden Park Trust Board
LOCATION
Auckland, New Zealand
COMPLETED
Ongoing
Our Scope
Eden Park is located in the Auckland residential suburb of Mt Eden. Historically, MDA has assisted the Eden Park Trust Board with all matters relating to noise, since the 1990s. It later became clear that the financial viability of Eden Park was dependent on its ability to hold large rock concerts. MDA was engaged to prepare a detailed Assessment of Noise Effects which included 3D digital noise modelling of three different stage arrangements to calculate the noise levels in the surrounding residential area. This formed the basis of expert evidence that was presented at the resource consent hearing.
Despite a small group of residents in opposition, the majority of residents saw the benefits of the proposal and accepted the conclusions of the ANE that the adverse noise effects were reasonable - subject to the proposed controls on the number of events, the start and finish times and the noise limits. The Council Commissioners agreed with this approach and granted consent for 6 concerts per year, in January 2021.
An extremely complex set of conditions developed by the Council’s acoustic adviser were attached to the consent. The first concerts were held in 2021 and the monitoring required 4 consultants to be on-site for 2 days to ensure the conditions were complied with. The noise monitoring showed compliance with the consent conditions and also that the computer noise modelling predictions were realistic and conservative by 2 to 3dB.
For each concert, MDA staff work with the event promotors and Eden Park staff to ensure the noise limits are met, and noise complaints are addressed appropriately. This is done through discussions with Council and meetings prior to each concert, extensive noise monitoring during the sound checks and concerts, and reporting on the results afterwards.
In 2024, MDA assisted Eden Park to obtain consent to increase the annual allowance to 6 pairs of concerts, that is twelve concerts per year. The new consent also includes a much simpler set of noise conditions, allowing MDA to efficiently monitor concerts in accordance with current standard practice, while reducing unnecessary cost for Eden Park Trust.
CHALLENGES
Challenges included:
Modelling the directivity of line array concert sound systems in three different stage arrangements
Installation of a transparent noise barrier at the top of the East Stand
Establishing the transfer function of the stadium – the noise level at the mixing consul minus the noise level at the residential boundary (worst case). This approach allows monitoring at the mixing consul to ensure compliance at the residential boundary at considerably less cost
PROJECT TEAM
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