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Cabarita’s famous Halcyon House upsets neighbours

AN ultra chic restaurant claiming to have put its sleepy northern NSW village on “the map” is embroiled in a nasty dispute with its rich neighbours.

Cabarita Beach residents say diners at Paper Daisy, Halcyon House, are too noisy and should pipe down.

“We expect everyone to abide by the rules,” a neighbour said.

In reply, a baffled Halcyon House and Paper Daisy general manager Mauro Deriso said: “We have 16 employees, we benefit the area, it’s an amazing location. We have put Cabarita on the map.”

AN ultra chic restaurant which claims to have put its sleepy northern NSW village on “the map” is embroiled in a dispute with its rich neighbours.

Residents say diners at Paper Daisy, Halcyon House, are too noisy and should pipe down.

In reply, the award-winning Cabarita Beach eatery and hotel says it is a benefit to the Tweed Coast by attracting tourists, providing jobs and buying local produce.

Tweed Shire Council said it had received three noise complaints stretching back to New Year’s Eve. Other issues in the letters included car parking and smelly waste bins.

Halcyon House and Paper Daisy general manager Mauro Deriso said he was baffled by the opposition from the restaurant’s beachfront neighbours.

“I don’t know why people love to complain,” Mr Deriso said. “We have 16 employees, we benefit the area, it’s an amazing location. We have put Cabarita on the map. It’s not a disco. It’s just a restaurant.”

The luxe establishment is known for hosting exclusive parties attended by models, surfers and fashionistas.

The restaurant at the hotel was initially approved primarily for the use of guests. The general public was allowed in to supplement the business.

But since the hotel opened in 2015, Paper Daisy has been a raving success. “Thousands and thousands and thousands of people come here for Halcyon House. They are beautiful, well- travelled people,” Mr Deriso said.

“We make sure we support local suppliers of produce. We can have 150 people coming into town per day. I think Cabarita is still a sleepy town and nothing can change that.”

In a planning meeting this month, council voted unanimously to carry a motion stating the hotel would have to lodge a fresh development application to allow unrestricted use by the general public.

Council also said it did not support increased use of the hotel or restaurant by the public.

Tweed Shire Councillor James Owen said the hotel may have become too successful and residents were within their rights to be upset.

“It’s very difficult because the hotel can’t expand past its original footprint,” Cr Owen said.

“To the broader community it’s definitely beneficial, but the people who live next door don’t derive any benefit.

Neighbour Carmel McMahon said the hotel had been a “problem” since it opened and claimed receiving a warning letter did nothing to stop it breaching planning rules.

She also said she had not been contacted by the owners.

Mr Deriso, who said the hotel regularly closed before its alcohol licence allowed, said the bar did not play loud music during the New Year’s Eve celebrations they received warning about for operating past their midnight licensing hours.