BURLEIGH’S BAR ROOM BRAWL
FIGHT NOT OVER FOR 2AM CLOSING
THE Gold Coast City Council is being accused of ignoring the impact of COVID restrictions by refusing to allow smaller bars to extend their midnight close until 2am.
Councillors backed an officer’s recommendation at a full council meeting on Wednesday to refuse a planning request from the Nightjar bar at Burleigh Heads to close two hours later.
Outside council, area councillor Daphne McDonald maintained the policy would not change even with the arrival of light rail. She said it was a “village centre” and council remained “very firm on the closing”.
But the Bulletin can reveal private emails to the councillors before the meeting in which the bar owner, Scott Imlach, pleaded with them to consider the impact of COVID-19.
He also later explained to the Bulletin that the Coast’s dining and nightlife culture had changed and by splitting bookings into later shifts the locals had embraced the later nights like those in Melbourne and Sydney.
In the email, he wrote: “One of the main reasons we want to increase the hours is that it’s now been a year since we have been able to operate at full capacity of 100 people.
“We have been stuck on 50 people or less since this time last year, given the Queensland government’s Roadmap to Recovery of one person per two square metres.
“The business just isn’t viable on 50 people and I’m not sure how much longer we can keep going. The small bar licence doesn’t allow us to do too much outside the box.”
He told councillors that his efforts to meet with Cr McDonald had failed.
“I’ve tried to make an appointment but have had no such luck with her email saying it will be reviewed on the 28th with the planning committee,” he said.
Cr McDonald told the Bulletin she had spoken with Mr Imlach by telephone and he met with officers.
“Burleigh is a family holiday destination,” Cr McDonald said. “Officers made it clear from the start that they had considerable concerns and an information request was sought.
“Mr Imlach has other nightclubs that successfully trade until midnight. The
midnight closure was a unanimous vote in both committee and full council.
“It is advised that Mr Imlach speak to the state government regarding COVID impacts.”
Mr Imlach rejected
concerns about noise and safety raised by officers, pointing to an acoustic report and the CCTV in the laneway.
He said he had a “very good working relationship” with the previous area councillor Pauline Young who
would “vouch for the CCTV in the laneway as she was responsible for installing several cameras”.
Every local resident complaint we have had we have dealt with immediately,” he added.