NOTIFICATION OF DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION
APPLICATION NO: MA2026/1114
APPLICANT: L Carmichael & L C Hawke
PROPERTY: 75 Owen Street HUSKISSON - Lot 2 DP 209436 Owen Street HUSKISSON - Lot 87 DP 755928PROPOSAL: S4.55(2) to DA18/1705 - Change of hours of operation for the "Waterfront Bar" at the Huskisson Hotel, Huskisson
NOTIFICATION OF DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION
APPLICATION NO: MA2026/1113
APPLICANT: L Carmichael & L C Hawke
PROPERTY: 75 Owen Street HUSKISSON - Lot 2 DP 209436 Owen Street HUSKISSON - Lot 87 DP 755928
PROPOSAL:
S4.55(2) to DA19/1354 - Change of hours of operation for the “Beer Garden” at the Huskisson Hotel, Huskisson
As a permanent resident and local community member I object to the following changes to the operation and extension of hours for the "Waterfront Bar" and “Beer Garden” at the Huskisson Hotel, Huskisson.
Proposed extended operation and liquor trading hours are:
Monday - currently 11.30pm change to 12.00 Midnight (an increase of 30 minutes)
Tuesday - currently 11.30pm change to 12.00 Midnight (an increase of 30 minutes)
Wednesday - currently 11.30pm change to 12.00 Midnight (an increase of 30 minutes)
Thursday - currently 11.30pm change to 12.00 Midnight (an increase of 30 minutes)
Friday - currently 11.30pm change to 1.00am the next day (an increase of 1 hour 30 minutes)
Saturday - currently 11.30pm change to 1.00am the next day (an increase of 1 hour 30 minutes).
Sunday - currently 10.00pm – no change proposed
There are several major concerns related to these proposed changes.
These include the wellbeing and safety of residence, visitors, local businesses and maintaining Huskisson as a family friendly tourist destination. In addition, there is ongoing concern in regard to noise impacts and the adherence to Existing Conditions (s4.55 Consideration) under the Liquor and gaming Act NSW.
Previous requests to council for extended liquor and trading hours drew many concerns from the public and Police.
It was acknowledged, extended hours would result in increased noise disturbances and the risk of escalated anti-social behaviours as well as increased alcohol related crime in the area, for example property damage, vandalism, violence and perceived threats to safety.
In addition, the lack of transport available to accommodate late night patrons will only contribute to the risk of increased numbers overflowing into nearby streets and neighbourhoods and the likelihood of increased alcohol related disturbances and crime.
There has been a large body of literature and studies carried out on licensed premises assessing the impacts of both extended and restrictive trading hours which confirm these real concerns of Police and the general Public
The Sax institute carried out a study in northern NSW and CBD for the NSW Dept. of Health. It showed policies targeting earlier closing hours of licensed premises directly correlated to reduced violence and anti-social behaviour (Sax Institute 2008 p28). Further, local and overseas studies looked at the impact of small changes (less than 2hrs) in late night trading hours for licensed bars. For each 1-hour change in trading hours there was an increase of approximately 20% in recorded assaults. Conversely a restriction of hours saw a decrease.
These and other studies show ‘consistent evidence’ that increasing trading hours, increase negative impacts, while reducing permissible trading hours of late-night pubs, clubs etc is an ‘effective way to reduce alcohol related harm”.
Along with concerns of increased alcohol negative behaviour is the lack of a permanent full-time presence of police to uphold and maintain a high level of community safety in Huskisson and nearby neighbourhoods.
Lastly, the ongoing dispute of noise levels and breaches of liquor laws under current trading hours gives the community little reassurance of this situation improving. These proposed trading hours imply changes of operation from pub to night club that can only increase noise disturbance and anti-social behaviour late into the night.
Therefore, a decision by Council that ignores such strong evidence of negative impacts to residents and neighbourhoods would be difficult to accept by Huskisson residents, business owners and frequent visitors to our area.
I strongly urge Council and Liquor and Gaming Authority to reject this application.
Carol Rizzuto
