Spotlight on city bar
RESIDENTS living in Hobart’s CBD say a new lounge and beer garden could have an adverse impact on their “amenity”.
A development application was lodged with Hobart City Council for partial demolition, alterations and change of use to a bar and beer garden for the two-storey former office building at 35 Melville St.
THE Hobart City Council needs to address how it will maintain a balance between protecting inner-city residents’ amenity and business interests, say residents who have raised concerns about a proposed neighbouring bar.
A development application was lodged with Hobart City Council for partial demolition, alterations, extension, and change of use to a bar and beer garden for the two-storey former office building at 35 Melville Street, to be known as the Empire Lounge and Garden Bar.
The council has received 23 representations from the public on the application, which will go to the planning committee for consideration on February 15 ahead of a full council meeting.
Wayne Priddle is a resident of the immediately adjacent community housing complex, which he said was home to a mix of people including families with young children, shift workers, the elderly and residents with disabilities.
He said while residents were not entirely opposed to the development, the council needed to ensure the developer mitigated adverse impacts on residents.
“There is a need to get the balance right in order to maintain residential amenity for current and new residential developments in the mid-town and inner-Hobart locations,” Mr Priddle said.
“Failure to ensure this will result in constant complaints and contribute to increased levels of anti-social behaviour.”
Other residents, who asked to remain anonymous, said they were also concerned about the noise levels during the renovation works.
Empire Lounge and Garden Bar owner and licensee Derek Rolls said, while there had not been direct consultation with neighbouring property owners and tenants, consideration had been given to them in the planning phase.
“We took it upon ourselves to take into account the location of the venue and put measures in place such as the whole venue having soundproof cladding and insulation,” he said.
“There’s not going to be any lighting or opening windows
on the back side of the property. The garden bar itself is not actually a garden — it refers more to the aesthetics of it — it will be in an adjoining additional structure which will be completely enclosed, with an opening at the top with screening.”
Empire general manager Guy Foster said, while the venue was seeking a liquor licence until midnight seven days a week, the garden bar would close at 10pm.
“It’s not a general tables out in the backyard feel — we’ve put a lot of thought into this and we’re aware of the residents behind us so we’re trying to make adjustments — we don’t want to upset the community,” he said.
“We’ll be at the meeting on the 15th to answer any queries and put people’s mind at rest.” Mr Rolls said, if approved, the venue aimed to become the top cocktail lounge and garden bar in the state, with an opening date in March.