Australia’s annual Big Day Out festival has been fined for excessive noise levels.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) fined Creative Festival Entertainment A$5,500 ($5,186.47) after the festival organizers twice allowed the volume to exceed the accepted level of 65 decibels.
The transgression occurred during sets by Rage Against the Machine and Bjork during the Jan. 28 show at Melbourne’s 46,000-capacity Flemington Racecourse. The festival received 25 complaints from residents, while the EPA received four.
Creative Festival Entertainment blamed a new venue and a strong wind on the day.
Big Day Out was held in six cities in Australia and New Zealand from Jan. 18 to Feb. 3. Other acts on the bill included Silverchair, Hilltop Hoods, Grinspoon, Carl Cox and Operator Please.
