Manly Community Forum (MCF) commissioned and the community funded an independent acoustic specialist to peer review the proposed State mandated Sound Framework, because we believed the proposed Manly SEP should be tested by evidence before it proceeded. Now, since Councillors voted to send the Manly SEP proposal to the NSW Government for approval then more consultation and a trial, Northern Beaches Council has released a Request for Quotation (RFQ 2026/001458 Acoustic Consultancy Services – Acoustic Peer Review Manly Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP)) to review our Review. (This document is available on the Manly SEP GFM page. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eWhQ6erTbaX5fmNKp5KfLmm8fjSP0dg6?usp=sharing)

The MCF Review of the proposed SEP Sound Framework identified more than 50 issues, including 14 critical flaws, raising serious questions about whether the proposal should be moved forward by Council for the Trial and more consultation. MCF welcomes any genuine independent scrutiny but according to Council’s own timetable, the NSW Gateway public consultation is scheduled to commence on 31 August, yet in the RFQ the independent consultant’s recommended sound framework will be delivered on 30 October 2026. After the trial is supposed to commence.

That means the community will be asked to prepare submissions before the proposed sound levels, the most contested aspect of the SEP, with Council’s own consultation showing 85% of submissions either opposed the proposal or did not support it in its current form have been finalised. Residents should have the opportunity to comment on the finalised proposal with any amendments resulting from the review, not one that is still being revised.

The RFQ includes a formal stakeholder meeting, which will give MCF community representatives and our independent acoustic expert the opportunity to present directly to the independent consultant, Council staff and interested councillors. Updates and docs avail on the Gofundme site. #challenge-manlysentertainment-precinct-noise-plan. https://www.gofundme.com/f/cwqmd-challenge-manlys-entertainment-precinct-noise-plan