Further objections came from NSW Police which claimed there had been 102 recorded criminal incidents, including assaults, linked to the pub since hospitality group Gallaghers Hotels took over the venue in 2017.
But Patrick Gallagher, chief executive of Gallaghers Hotels, challenged the police claims, saying it was unreasonable to attribute every criminal incident in Hunters Hill to the pub’s operations.
“Hunters Hill is a conservative area, and we always knew we were going to attract objections, but it’s not like our aim was to turn the hotel into a nightclub,” he said.
“We currently have to close our doors at midnight and that means if you’re at the pub having a birthday party or catching up with friends you either have to leave to go to another venue or go home altogether.
“The idea was simply about giving the community somewhere they could socialise at night.”
Other venues facing late-night trading hurdles include Paddington bar Charlie Parker’s, operated by Justin Hemmes’s Merivale Group. Despite trading on Oxford Street, Charlie Parker’s had its plans to extend trading from midnight to 2am rejected by Woollahra Council which listed concerns including “adverse amenity impacts”, public intoxication and noise disturbances on nearby homes.
Penrith Council knocked back plans by The Orchard to trade from 5pm to 10pm, while Northern Beaches Council last month refused plans by Clontarf Marina eatery Sandy Bar Cafe to extend its trading hours from 3.30pm to 9.30pm, due to concerns including noise and traffic congestion.
Justin Hemmes’ hospitality group is taking Woollahra Council to court in an appeal over extended trading hours at cocktail bar Charlie Parker’s.Credit: Edwina Pickles
Concord venue The Croatian Club meanwhile had plans to extend trading hours from 10pm to 3am rejected by Canada Bay Council after more than 200 residents opposed the proposal, including homeowner James Philpott who argued it could “unleash a free-for-all” in the residential area.
“The club in my view is trying to hitch its wagon to the vibrancy reforms juggernaut, but I don’t think the reforms were ever intended to apply to quiet suburbs such as ours,” he told a packed council meeting last month.
Club president Zvonimir Kurtovic said the decision was bitterly disappointing. “While one level of government is trying to encourage venues to trade later, another level of government is saying no,” he said.
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“The ability for venues to trade later really depends on which council area you’re in – if you’re in the Inner West or the City of Sydney you’re far more likely to get a ‘yes’ than somewhere like Canada Bay.”
NSW Night-time economy minister John Graham said while the government is “working hard to bring Sydney back to life by cutting red tape”, he noted that opening hours are still within the control of councils.
“We encourage them to get on board with the spirit of the vibrancy reforms,” he said.
The refusals follow a report by the NSW Productivity and Equality Commissioner in September which found regulatory barriers are continuing to stifle Sydney’s nightlife with development applications for extended trading hours costing average businesses up to $38,360.
However, not all councils are opposed to the prospect of nightlife – including Inner West and Burwood which have both adopted special entertainment precincts within their local government areas. Further precincts also planned in other parts of Sydney including Bondi Junction and Cronulla.
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