Concern over use of Oxford Street venue

By William Brougham

An Oxford Street businessman denies he wants to operate his venue mainly as a nightclub.

Marc Gerber, who owns the Oxford Art Factory, has lodged a Development Application with City of Sydney Council to remove a consent condition which specifies two different types of entertainment must take place and it may not be used only as a nightclub.

“The application is mainly to do away with the condition that I operate solely as an art gallery or art house cinema from 11am till 6pm,” he says.

“We are not asking for the amendment to ‘legalise’ some covert ‘night club’ objective.”

But Stephen Pate from the Hyde Park Community Voice says: “If the Council took away that condition then the Oxford Art Factory could be run as a nightclub and that condition is the only thing ensuring its continued focus on the arts.”

The President of the Darlinghurst Residents Action group, Jo Holder agrees.

“This would be a major change and not a minor one so it feels as if the arts are being used as a cover for something else,” she says.

“The Oxford Art Factory has been the leader in these arts related venues trying to change their Development Applications.”

Mr Gerber says: “We are not interested in operating as a ‘night club’ only…why would we spend close to $500,000.00 on a PA system suited to live music?”

The Oxford Art Factory is mainly used as an art gallery and live music venue and has featured performers as varied as Lady Gaga and the Hoodoo Gurus.

The President of the East Sydney Neighbourhood Association, Doug Purdie, says Oxford Street is already saturated with nightclubs and if the venue is mainly run as a nightclub there’ll be nothing left for residents.

“The Council really needs to make up its mind what it wants Oxford Street to be,” he says.

“Nightclubs are having a serious impact on the lives of residents and they only cause further problems for the street.”

City of Sydney Greens Councillor Chris Harris says: “It was promoted to us as culturally significant in Oxford Street providing opportunities for all sorts of artists to do their stuff but if it’s going to be a nightclub then that is a very different kettle of fish and they need to lodge a separate Development Application.”

Last month many residents were also concerned about an increase in violence on Oxford Street after the Oxford Art Factory applied to stay open until 6am on a permanent basis.

But Mr Gerber says his venue takes anti-social behaviour very seriously.

“Our statistics in regards to violence are very low indeed and better than most so called reputable established venues,” he says.

“I think I’ve shown and proven to all and sundry that myself and the OAF are not in it for any covert objective as some would like to believe but we are in it because we believe in the arts.”