When the Red Rattler theatre in Marrickville installed acoustic foam in the walls behind its stage, it did not just make the venue soundproof — but future-proof.

In Sydney's inner west, where noise complaints can sometimes become the final nail in the coffin for a struggling venue, it pays to be prepared.

"Even though they've put new laws in … I know that there's always that one person or that one thing, there's always a loophole," the venue's senior program manager, Kween G said.

New laws toughened the process around noise complaints in NSW as of last year.

Among the changes, disputes against a premises will favour the party who occupied the area first, to stop residents restricting the offerings of already-established venues.

Once construction began on apartments in the streets behi

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