Fight to close Cross club lost

BY ROJE ADAIMY

A controversial nightclub in Kings Cross will be allowed to stay open, despite attempts by the City of Sydney to shut its doors for allegedly contributing to anti-social behaviour in the area.
The NSW Land and Environment Court ruled in favour of Pink Star Entertainment, the owners of Ladylux on Roslyn Street, after the City claimed it was illegally operating as a nightclub. The matter was brought before the court after the Council said it received numerous complaints from local residents about bad behaviour from patrons on the street and noise disruptions, and wanted it closed.
But the presiding Judge said that the City inadvertently gave the owners consent to use it as a nightclub, rather than a restaurant, when it approved separate development application in 2002 that implied it was already being used as a nightclub.
“It’s disappointing that there is likely to be continuing negative impacts on people living nearby when the City has never intentionally given development consent for the premises to operate as a nightclub,” a City of Sydney spokesperson said. The Council is now looking at preparing an appeal.
But Ladylux licensee, Peter Hayes, told The City News that while extremely happy about the decision, the club had already addressed many of the serious concerns raised by residents at the February hearing.
Mr Hayes said that Ladylux, along with managers of nearby clubs Favela and Empire, has since hired a special security guard to patrol the front of their premises every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night.
‘I’ve been in contact with a couple of the residents and they said they haven’t had any complaints about Ladylux and that the extra guard has made a difference,’ he said.
The police have not had a single call-out to the club since this extra guard was employed, according to Mr Hayes.
‘The residents all have my phone number, and I said to them they can call anytime of the day to raise any issues that they have,’ he said. ‘I haven’t heard from any of them to this date.”Mr Hayes revealed to The City News that previous managers of the club often disregarded calls from local residents, but said that things have changed and it is now important to address those concerns to ensure the future of their club.
‘The residents have been here for a long time, and they do have a very beneficial say on what happens, so we’ll try and do the best we can to keep them happy,’ Mr Hayes said.
The case comes after a spate of violent incidents in and around the Kings Cross precinct, including a double-stabbing at a nearby club on Bayswater Road last Sunday. The police say that two men, aged 21 and 22, got into an argument with a group of unknown males before leaving the club, and then later returned to the club and were allegedly assaulted. The alleged offenders fled the scene, according to police, while the two injured men were taken to St Vincent’s Hospital where they were treated for stab wounds to their lower backs. Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the alleged assault to contact Kings Cross Police on (02) 8356 0099 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.