Sydney pub in distress after being hit with ‘unfair’ noise complaints
Image: Staff at the Eveleigh Hotel are petitioning against noise 'unfair' restrictions. Photo: Abha Haval.
By ABHA HAVAL
A popular inner-city pub is hanging on by a thread after the City of Sydney imposed restrictions due to noise complaints from neighbours. The council first tried to address the noise complaints through voluntary action, however found the mitigation attempts unsuccessful so eventually enforced restrictions on live music and trading hours at the pub.
On January 27, the City of Sydney Council gave the hotel a warning call, which led to the staff emphasising that, “it directly threatens our ability to operate in the future”, and rejecting the city’s proposals for noise mitigations.
For the past year, the hotel has been a ‘victim’ of noise complaints from neighbouring residents, which the hotel says are unfair and unfounded. In response, the hotel started an online petition against the council restrictions after complying for the past year.
The recent restrictions outline that outdoor seating be reduced to a maximum of 6 people on two tables until 8pm, changed from what was previously set to be 8 people until 8pm. Additionally, the side windows and door are to be shut to avoid any leakage of noise.
3000+ signatures on petition
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The Eveleigh Hotel is a decade old, gambling free, family friendly community hub on the corner of Abercrombie Street in Eveleigh.
The petition gained over 3000 signatures within 2 weeks.
“The Council’s actions have caused great damage on the essential character of the Eveleigh Hotel,” the petition reads.
“At immense cost and personal effort, our management and staff have responded to the restrictions despite the fact that we do not believe the restrictions to be found upon reasonable judgement or sound empirical evidence”.
Hotel staff frustrated with restriction imposed by City
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The hotel staff feels that, “they are ‘constantly on edge’ due to the ever-anticipated complainant”. The staff has described experiencing “anxious atmosphere resulting in an actual stress-related physical illness for which an ambulance was called in during a shift”.
A hotel staff member told City Hub that, “As a result of these restrictions, we have to deal with the police and authorities, and it is very frustrating to do the same thing again every week”.
“We have to be constantly aware of the surrounding as some people don’t comply with the restrictions”.
“When a group of 4 people come in the hotel, we have to tell them that they cannot sit outside. It’s ridiculous. People should be allowed to sit outside,” he said.
The hotel has also had to limit the amount of live music being played.
“This is a community driven place and the hotel has had no live music performances on Saturdays for a month now”.
The City of Sydney said they are proactively working with the venue and staff to support live music along with addressing the noise complaints.
A council spokesperson said, “We have made it clear to the venue that the live music can continue and there will be no enforcement action while we work together to resolve noise issues regarding the amplified music in their dining area”.
“The Eveleigh hotel converted a quiet storeroom that shares a wall with the residential property into a dining room with amplified music”.
“Our attempts to resolve the noise issue voluntarily over the last six months have only been partially successful. Hence, the city advised the hotel that more formal actions might be taken,” the spokesperson said.
Council assured that no orders have been given to ban the live music at the Eveleigh Hotel. City staff has confirmed again this week that the live music performances can continue while the city assists the hotel with providing feedbacks and advice.
Complaints revealed
As per the Liquor and Gaming Authority’s report from June 2020 (provided by Labor Councillor Linda Scott) regarding the complaints made against the Eveleigh Hotel, staff received a complaint from a local resident in May of 2019, that was signed and verified by four other residents in the neighbourhood.
The complaint lists disturbances such as overuse of footpath for outdoor seating, ‘loud, foul mouthed, and intoxicated’ patrons siting only a few meters away from the nearest residence, tobacco smoke emanating from the area, and hotel patrons smoking and loitering in front of neighbouring properties.
Council received a total of 11 complaints against the hotel, among which 3 of them required further actions. After reviewing the complaint and careful investigation along with proper evidence from the complainant, a warning was issued to the hotel.
Cr Scott put forward a motion at a March 13 council meeting recognising the impact that the restrictions have had on the Eveleigh Hotel, and noting the drop in live music across the Sydney LGA.
