The ACT opposition is turning up the volume on a push to protect Canberra's live music scene, calling on the government to create dedicated entertainment precincts across the city.
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It follows similar calls from the Greens earlier this year, and a long-running campaign from MusicACT.
Liberals planning spokesman Mark Parton will move a motion in the ACT Assembly on Wednesday, demanding action to ensure the territory's noise laws don't trigger the "gradual death" of live entertainment in the national capital.
The motion calls on the government to designate specific locations as entertainment zones, which would be governed by less onerous noise limits than other areas.
It would also push for the introduction of "order of occupancy" laws, a measure designed to stave of the threat of established venues being shut down by complaints from residents who move into the area.
New buildings in the precincts would also have to adhere to noise insulation and abatement standards.
Debate about Canberra's noise laws has ratcheted up recent months amid fears that Geocon's planned Garema Place hotel could kill off nightlife in the area.
Music ACT boss David Caffery argued the hotel's arrival would turn the city precinct into a more residential zone, meaning neighbouring venues were vulnerable to noise complaints.
The night-time noise limit in the city and town centres is 50 decibels, the equivalent of an indoor conversation.
The construction giant has sought to ease the musicians' fears, saying the proposed hotel development would help Garema Place become Australia's "most vibrant 24-hour destination".
On Tuesday, Mr Caffery welcomed the Opposition's push to create entertainment precincts across Canberra, saying "finally common sense has prevailed".
He took aim at the ACT government's stance on the issue, pointing to its failure to act on a suite recommendations resulting from an Assembly inquiry in 2009.
The territory's restrictive noise laws had forced the closure of venues, and stymied investment in others, he said.
"We haven't seen any good new venues in a long time, because there is no confidence in the sector," he said.
MusicACT has already earmarked locations in the city, Mitchell and Belconnen as potential future entertainment precincts.
Mr Parton warned of dire consequences for the city's live entertainment scene and, in turn, Canberra's nightlife if the noise laws were not overhauled.
"If we don't do anything we will further stagnate an already depleted live music scene," Mr Parton.
"The end result is a sterile capital which doesn't fit with our vision, and I don't think it fits with the Chief Minister's vision either. It does send a signal that Canberra is not the place to come and set up and try and innovate."
ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury, who this year pushed for the creation of entertainment precincts as he called for Exhibition Park to be shielded from future development, welcomed news of Wednesday's push.
"Without entertainment precincts, areas like Garema Place will continue to be quiet and underutilised .. and worst of all, boring," Mr Rattenbury said.
"Our musicians, our residents and Canberra music-lovers and party-goers deserve better. Entertainment precincts have been years in the making - and with developments going up at a rate of knots around the city, now is the time to act."
