Laneways go live

By Brittney Kleyn

Council has discarded residents’ objections and approved the first small bar to be built as part of Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s live laneways vision.

The councils Small Permits Appeals Panel met on Friday March 20 to review the conditions imposed on the recent approval of a small bar at 133 Oxford St, Darlinghurst.

Council staff had originally rejected the proposal for the new bar to have its entrance on Little Oxford Street, but after the panel’s recent meeting, the decision was overruled.

The new bar will have a three month trial period with its main entrance in the small back street, but greens councillor Irene Doutney says this is to the detriment of local residents.

 “These residents are under siege from drunken revellers, garbage and speeding traffic as it is, so this is a real kick in the teeth for them,” said Cr. Doutney.

The Greens Councillor seemed less than impressed with the action as she argued against the decision for fifteen minutes. Cr. Doutney said: “This is the second bar we’ve approved in the face of obvious negative impacts on residents and I have to wonder if there is a blind commitment to encouraging small bars at the expense of residents.”

 The original decision in the case of 133 Oxford St determined that access to the bar from Little Oxford St would have a negative impact on the quality of life for neighbours.

 Council spokesperson Josh Mackenzie said the panel considered the small size of the premises and the strict security conditions when overruling the initial verdict.

 The bar’s owner, Jack Brown said: “We’re trying to be an individual bar and having our doorway off Oxford St acts as a filter system. We want to be a bar that people stumble across, like a little ‘hidey-hole’.”

Mr Brown believes the venue will be unique and that residents should give them an opportunity to show that they aren’t a threat.

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