source : the age
A planning dispute has erupted on Sydney’s waterfront over a proposal to transform part of a heritage-listed Walsh Bay pier into a major event venue, pitting residents against hospitality heavyweights and reigniting debate about the city’s nighttime economy.
A $4.9 million development application lodged with the City of Sydney Council is seeking to transform a tenancy at the northern end of Piers 8/9 into a two-level venue capable of hosting up to 750 patrons for business functions, corporate conferences, exhibitions and conventions.
It would be operated by Navarra Venues, which runs a string of other Sydney venues including Le Montage at Lilyfield, Curzon Hall at Marsfield and Oatlands Estate.
Plans include two large function rooms, a private event space, bar facilities, and a new northern balcony overlooking Sydney Harbour. The venue would operate until 11pm from Sunday to Wednesday and midnight from Thursday to Saturday.
Despite planning documents describing the development as a boost for jobs and economic activity in the precinct, the proposal has attracted dozens of objections from nearby residents, primarily those on neighbouring Pier 6/7 whose apartments are as close as 64 metres across the water from the site.
Many objections centre on fears the venue will transform the area into an echo chamber for late-night noise, impinge on privacy and worsen traffic congestion, cigarette smoke, antisocial behaviour and affect the heritage of the 112-year-old wharf.
In submissions to the council, resident Judith Martin said her living room would be “totally exposed to the noise of potentially 750 partially inebriated people”, while Tony Murray – who lives 70 metres from the site – described the venue as “completely inappropriate for the largely residential area”.
“I see this as basically a rezoning issue whereby the pier changes from a daytime business area to a large-scale night and day hospitality venue,” he said.
“It far exceeds any other hospitality venue in the precinct and is a major concern for residents.”
In another submission, Lucy Osborn urged the council to consider residents’ quality of life, saying it “should not be sacrificed for the financial profiting of a single commercial enterprise”.
The proposal has attracted backing from business and hospitality figures including SRG Hospitality founder Bill Drakopoulos, who said the venue would strengthen Sydney’s ability to “compete with other cities for conferences, corporate events and business tourism”.
Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou said the project would also create jobs, revive a “significant harbour building”, and generate flow-on benefits for surrounding businesses.
The dispute is the latest flashpoint in Sydney’s nighttime economy as the NSW government pushes ahead with reforms designed to reduce conflicts between venues and nearby residents by giving greater weight to their economic and cultural values.
Planning documents stated the venue would open more of the heritage-listed pier to public use, complement nearby cultural institutions, and operate with measures to reduce impacts on residents, including limits on amplified DJ music and restrictions on balcony use after 10pm.
Despite residents’ objections, a City of Sydney report has recommended approval, subject to conditions including a two-year trial of midnight trading.
The report concluded the proposal would operate as a “managed pre-booked events facility rather than an uncontrolled entertainment venue” and achieve an appropriate balance between heritage conservation and contemporary use.
A final decision will be handed down by the City of Sydney Local Planning Panel on Wednesday.
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David Barwell is an urban affairs reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
