HISTORIC PUB IN NEW BEER GARDEN BATTLE:
A HISTORIC Geelong pub’s attempt to keep its beer garden open on a “technicality” has again put the hotel in the sights of City Hall.
George Zurcas, owner of The Deck, said the pub was facing legal action from the City of Greater Geelong for not complying with a November consent order to convert its beer garden into carparking after noise complaints from residents in a neighbouring apartment complex that was built two decades earlier.
The city had argued the pub had operated its beer garden without planning approval, and that its music and patron noise was in breach of its 1997 permit.
Mr Zurcas said he’d added new carparks to comply with the order, while still retaining a beer garden at the 165-year-old Gheringhap St pub through a “technicality”.
“We installed three car spaces within that back area as per the planning permit, and we’ve made the vision for the cars to drive in and out, but we’ve made it staff only,” Mr Zurcas said. “We put our furniture out there, but not in the driveway.
“The council did an inspection, and sent a letter late yesterday saying we don’t comply, we comply with the car parks but we don’t comply having furniture out there.
“They’re looking at now taking legal proceeding through the courts, saying we don’t comply with VCAT orders.”
Mr Zurcas said he’d been advised the furniture did fit with the planning permit.
The Deck on Thursday night launched a petition calling on the City to allow it to keep its beer garden open, attracting more than 1700 signature in the first 24 hours.
The petition noted The Deck felt they were being “bullied beyond relief”.
“We have spent literally hundreds of thousands of dollar to comply and they continue to bully and try and run us into the ground,” the petition noted.
“By taking this away you are risking taking food off the table for 38 inclusive staff members now to mention also includes security, cleaners, reps & more.”
City of Greater Geelong Planning, Design and Development director Gareth Smith in November welcomed “the acknowledgment by The Deck operators that they were operating the beer garden without planning approval, and that the music and patron noise was in breach of its permit”.