\n<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE \u2013 Tanjong Pagar Distripark will temporarily pause outdoor events that may cause noise disturbances to nearby residents, its management said in an Instagram post on Oct 30.<\/p>\n
The venue said that it would be asking licensees and tenants to temporarily pause events that could cause disturbances to neighbours.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe love bringing people together through our live outdoor events, but we also understand that the loud music may sometimes cause some disamenity to our neighbours and the surrounding community,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
Located at 37 and 39 Keppel Road, Tanjong Pagar Distripark comprises two five-storey warehouse blocks managed by Mapletree. The industrial complex also houses the Singapore Art Museum and several private art galleries.<\/p>\n
Nearby residential areas include the public and private housing estates within Spottiswoode Park and Everton Park, to the north of the Distripark.<\/p>\n
Event organiser Ice Cream Sundays, a Singapore party collective, has been staging electronic dance events at Tanjong Pagar Distripark for over three years.<\/p>\n
According to its co-founders, the collective typically holds two to four events a year at the venue, attracting around 1,000 to 1,200 eventgoers each time.<\/p>\n
In an Instagram post on Oct 28, Ice Cream Sundays said it would no longer be able to hold events there \u201cfor the foreseeable future and without heavy restrictions\u201d.<\/p>\n
It added that it had been working closely with venues and government agencies for over a decade to hold legal, safe, and licensed events.<\/p>\n
The event organiser said that it was looking for alternative venues for future events in 2027, and thanked fans for their support.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe never set out to cause a disturbance,\u201d it said. \u201cOur intention has always been to unite people and create shared moments of joy through music.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ice Cream Sundays\u2019 co-founders, Jake Camacho, 34, and Daniel O\u2019Connor, 34, told The Straits Times that they were informed of the restrictions by Tanjong Pagar Distripark\u2019s management through an e-mail sent on Oct 16, following the Rainbow Disco Club Singapore music festival on Oct 3.<\/p>\n
Co-organised by Ice Cream Sundays, the festival featured an outdoor session at the Block 39 carpark from 1pm to 10.15pm, with performances by local and international electronic music acts.<\/p>\n
According to the duo, the e-mail referred to repeated complaints from an individual about music events at the venue, including those organised by Ice Cream Sundays and other event organisers.<\/p>\n
Camacho and O\u2019Connor said that Ice Cream Sundays had taken steps to mitigate noise at its events and had complied with the relevant licensing requirements.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Connor said Ice Cream Sundays had moved one of its events about 60m to 80m further away from nearby residential areas, and submitted decibel readings every two hours to Tanjong Pagar Distripark as part of its noise mitigation measures.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as we\u2019re aware, we\u2019ve been doing what is expected of us, and also what we have promised the authorities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The duo said they were disappointed by the prospect of no longer being able to hold events at the venue, which they valued for its arts and heritage setting.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Connor said: \u201cIt wasn\u2019t just about bringing people into an empty car park space. It was the context of the arts and heritage there that made it special for us.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s a source of frustration for us, because we felt we were a small part of building something strong there culturally.\u201d<\/p>\n