Palm Beach dinner plans being stifled by minority of neighbours
Owners of the Barrenjoey boat shed overlooking Pittwater have run into issues with local council and a handful of residents over plans to open for dinner.
While the majority of Palm Beach residents are for the plan, seven have so far thwarted the idea citing noise issues.
That is in contrast to the 132 people who made submissions to council supporting the restaurant.
Palm Beach resident Stephen Jones who lives 600 metres away and is separated by a golf course and neighbour Richard Kovacs expressed their concern after Barrenjoey owners Ben May and Rob Domjen invited residents for sunset drinks to celebrate the imminent opening of their new restaurant.
Jones said he could hear the music being played from his front garden and that bass sounds were audible in the house.
“This is not a good way to start,” Jones wrote in a submission to Northern Beaches Council.
The Joey has proposed to extend its hours of operation from 4 pm to 11 pm, nightly.
A panel of three council planning staff have rejected the proposal stating, it was “likely to result in unreasonable amenity impacts to nearby residential properties”.
The closest property is half a kilometre away, separated by said golf course.
Sydney’s northern beaches residents are now becoming frustrated with local council’s willingness to bow to the demands of the minority.
They may be helped soon by the NSW government’s plans to implement a new regime for managing noise complaints that favours live music venues.
However, that doesn’t immediately affect the current problem for those that want to have dinner at Barrenjoey.
State Minister for Arts, Music and Nighttime Economy John Graham is unimpressed by the actions of the few dissenters in Palm Beach.
“When the nearest house is more than half a kilometre away, and separated by a golf course, it begs the question: what is the definition of ‘a neighbour’?” he said. “On this basis, we should also ask the opinion of the Barrenjoey lighthouse keeper, which is only marginally further away,” Graham said.
Jones, it seems, is a serial complainer, having in the past made noise and disturbance complaints about Palm Beach Golf Club, CASA by The Boathouse, and the now-defunct restaurant Cranky Fins.
Cranky Fins closed down due to the complaint.
“The option to renew our lease came up but due to a neighbour complaining to the authorities about us, we decided not to proceed. Running a restaurant is supposed to be fun, but it became unenjoyable,” owner Andy Ruwold told the Herald.
Kovacs argued that The Joey’s extended trading hours, “amplifies the sound down the estuary beach very clearly”. He wrote: “the repetitive, loud and unrelenting sound bounces off the water and adversely impacts the resident’s amenity, far further than the applicant would admit”.
The support, however has been overwhelming with businessman and philanthropist Roger Massy-Greene, saying the restaurant was “an important and popular community facility”.
Property developer Bill Anderson and wife Susie said Palm Beach was “in desperate need of evening dining spots”.
They wrote: “I understand the main objector to this application is well known to council and within the community as a person who will resist the smallest of changes in a bid to keep Palm Beach the same as it ‘has been’. In this case, he is objecting to something that hasn’t actually happened yet.”
Jones said he has no objection to the restaurant opening for dinner, but with low-key background music. He objected to being labelled a serial complainer.
The Joey’s owners have spent $7 million on the rebuild and employed French chef Guillaume Dubois in the kitchen.
They have turned to the courts for a decision, although it may not get that far with the council indicating a path for the decision to be changed.
“Northern Beaches Council intends to meet with the applicant and their client who are seeking to extend the approved trading hours,” a spokesperson said.
“Council will discuss review options rather than costly arbitration with the Land and Environment Court. Council is confident this matter can be resolved with a positive outcome for the venue and the community.”
Jonathan Jackson, 3rd April 2024
