Iconic Melbourne Docklands ATET floating rave club on the Yarra shuts down: DJs furious

Top Australian DJs are throwing their support behind a popular floating nightclub after the City of Melbourne council terminated its license because of complaints of nearby residents.

A 570-square-metre club on a barge, which is home to the Docklands’ ATET nightclub, has had their use of Crown land licence terminated by the council just eight months after launching.

Venue owner Jake Hughes, who outlayed $2million decking out the barge, was served a termination notice by acting council CEO Alison Leighton by email on Friday and instructed to cease operating by Thursday.

Venue patrons and a number of celebrity DJs including Sunshine Dj, and Blondie Official have thrown their support behind an online petition called #SaveATET. 

The petition has so far received 4,724 signatures with supporters labelling the council’s decision a ‘disgrace’.

Atet nightclub say the City of Melbourne withdrew their Crown land licence on Friday, forcing the open air venue to shut its doors

For the last three years Hughes says he has worked closely with the council, ensuring compliance to secure a permit for his European day-club-inspired venue that he’s sunk $2million into.

‘Only 24 hours prior to the notice, we provided a detailed submission to council positively answering every council concern, including compliance with EPA (Environment Protection Authority) Noise Regulations.’ he posted to the nightclub’s official Instagram account.

‘We have always taken every step necessary to be fully compliant with the EPA Regulations and have followed ever instruction from council in this regard.’

 ‘We feel an incredible sense of injustice, not only of the outcome but due to the process that we have been put through.’ 

The venue had a controversial start in November last year, when it received a series noise complaints from Docklands residents.

Last month, the council voted to issue a notice of default on the club’s planning permit after an EPA investigation deemed the venue had consistently exceeded reasonable noise levels.

Residents from nearby apartment complexes filed noise complaints, however owner Jake Hughes said concerns had died down over the following months

The floating nightclub in has been shut down less than a year after it opened to controversy and survived an arson attack

The club had fast become a music-lovers hotspot with it channelling European day-party vibes

ATET has been operating on background noise levels for the past month and operates from Friday through to Sunday, closing at 1am.

‘We have been operating with a noise limiter which restricts volume to levels approved and endorsed by Council, after being reviewed by their own independent acoustic consultant,’ Mr Hughes said.

‘Council have consistently led us to believe that we were fully compliant and are on the public record confirming this numerous times.’ 

The venue had previously received support from the City of Melbourne and Development Victoria including Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp who had championed the venue on a number of occasions.

‘it brings life and energy to that area and really speaks to what will be happening at that part of Docklands over the next few years,’ she told Nine News prior to our launch in August 2022.

The closure is the latest blow to the business after it was struck by an unprovoked arson attack in January.

The suspicious fire partially damaged and temporarily closed the barge, before it was reopened a fortnight later.

The City of Melbourne has been contacted for comment