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THIS year's My Coke Fest was the last to be held in Cape Town, after organisers Big Concerts International again came under fire for "intolerable noise levels" at the star-studded concert, held at Kenilworth Racecourse on Monday, 24 March.

Some 20 000 revellers attended the event, and 120 people lodged complaints against the noise.

Big Concerts say while Kenilworth Racecourse was the only ve?nue suitable for the event while the Green Point Stadium is under construction, the number of complaints has increased so drastically that they plan to hold future festivals elsewhere. Six times more complaints were received this year than last year.

Big Concerts' marketing and advertising exe?cutive, Michael Anetakis, says the "successful" show has rocked one too many boats.

"We would like to maintain the reputation of Big Concerts and keep everyone happy.

"The number of complaints received indicates that many people were unhappy with the noise level and we don't want to jeopardise the future success of the event."

He says alternative venues are already being considered for next year's concert, but Cape Town is out of the running.

Anetakis says venues such as the Athlone Stadium and the Bellville Velodrome are too small, while Newlands is more suitable for sea?ted crowds.

He says many job opportunities for locals will be lost.

"We always made sure we employed local labourers to be part of our crew and security teams, but it seems all these aspects are overlooked. We have no choice but to move the festival elsewhere," Anetakis says.

"The noise level was the only complaint raised, but people should realise this is a rock concert; the noise comes guaranteed with the event."

Kenilworth residents were informed of the event in November last year, Anetakis claims.

"We organised a meeting and invited people living in and around the area to attend and raise their objections. Only two people arrived."

He says "a batch of flyers" was distributed a week before the event and no complaints were received.

"Residents didn't respond until after the event, but when we requested complaints or concerns to be lodged prior to the concert, nobody was willing to do so."

Russel Southey, operations ma?nager of Gold Circle, which owns the racecourse, says they had not yet officially been informed of any termination of the contract between Gold Circle and Big Concerts.

Southey refused to divulge how much money Gold Circle would lose from the termination of their "year-by-year" contract, adding, "Gold Circle handled the process of preparations for the concert in the correct manner and we are always mindful of our neighbours as we are situated in a residential area. After the success of the event, we have been approached by many companies to host other international ar?tists".

He says complaining residents fail to see the potential highly publicised events such as these hold for the further development of the area.

"The amazing amount of revenue and number of jobs that broadly advertised events like these bring to our community is astounding. We will be losing out if we do not consider opportunities like these in Kenilworth."

Plans for future concerts are "de?finitely not being scrapped" and the possibility of more rock concerts is still on the cards.

Southey says they are also considering jazz festivals and other "more subdued" events.

"It will be hugely disappointing if we lose this contract with Big Concerts, but there are many other businesses interested in using the racecourse for similar events."

Protea subcouncil chairperson, Councillor Owen Kinahan, says the city is close to finalising an events policy, which will deal with all large events as well as those which may disturb communities on public and private land.

"Because Green Point Stadium is under construction, many venues in the city not ordinarily used for large events have been identified and used for purposes other than their 'normal' use.

"Cape Town is also rapidly becoming an international city, attractive for a wide variety of promotions and performances, and the city needs to accommodate such events in a mature and businesslike way."

He urges people to make "appropriate input" into the policy, which will be included on the agendas of all subcouncils in May. It will also be available for perusal in city libraries and on the city's website at www.capetown.gov.za.

City media liaison officer Charles Cooper says that after the Soccer World Cup in 2010, Green Point Stadium will be ideal for "large crowds of screaming fans".

"The city will have a wonderful, state of the art facility for money-spinners like concerts and other crowd-drawing events.

"The design of the stadium will allow noise to be kept within the boundaries of the stadium and lighting will also be able to be contained so that it doesn?t cause too much of a disturbance."

tammy.petersen@peoplespost.co.za

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