Residents unite against proposed brewery

Residents have joined forces to voice concerns over a proposed brewery in Surry Hills.

A development application (DA) has been submitted to the City of Sydney for a 200- seat microbrewery bar and restaurant on Devonshire Street, called Young Henry’s.

Member of the local residents group, ‘Bugger off Young Henry’s’ Anthony Scofield said the development would have a negative impact on the residential area.

“The biggest issue with the DA is that the development is completely inappropriate for our quiet residential and commercial area,” he said.

Mr Scofield said the proposed location is outside the designated area for hospitality and does not comply with Council guidelines.

In an objection sent to the City of Sydney’s Council Officer, Anita Leong, resident David Long said the proposed development out of scale for the neighbourhood.

“At 200 seats, the proposed development is almost double the threshold of the number of seats of a Category A “High Impact” late night trading venue and will turn a residential area that is peacefully quiet after dark into a noisy entertainment strip like Crown Street,” he stated in the objection.

He further argues the DA is misleading by representing the area as being “late night” and a “busy” commercial precinct by giving incorrect information such as opening hours and distances of nearby establishments.

“[The DA] attempts to paint the neighbourhood as being similar to Crown Street when the reality is that is a quiet residential community with no significant late night activity at all,” Mr Long stated.

According to a City of Sydney spokesperson “the City has received 26 submissions about the project, 25 of which are objections.”

Surry Hills resident Stephen Auburn said he was concerned with the noise that would come from the brewery.

Members of the group believe noise is inadequately addressed in the DA and believe it does not meet the criterion required under the Minimum Plan of Management Requirements.

The objection also argues increased parking demands will mean loss of on-street parking, which is already under pressure.

Under the DA, it proposes ten bike parking spots, which is five per cent of its total capacity.

Mr Auburn said he is not against development, but said he wanted appropriate development for the area.

“We are not anti development, we’re pro appropriate development,” he said.

According to Mr Scofield, the proposed late night trading seven days a week will also mean:

“Late night noise, people loitering and smoking in the narrow residential laneways, bad smells from the brewery, [and] noise from the 24×7 air conditioning compressors,” he said.

“This Development Application should be regarded as a pin-up for what we don’t want to see happen to our ‘City of Villages,’” Mr Long said.

“I have confidence that Council processes will disallow it on its lack of merit and failure to meet planning guidelines.”

For legal reasons Council was not able to comment on the DA until it has been assessed.

Submissions can be made to the City of Sydney until January 26.

by Sophie Cousins