March 2008
Update: Land & Environment Court hearing for The UN/DCM nightclub
NEW hearing to commence - 3rd, 4th & 7th April 2008.
Residents' conference at Maddocks Lawyers - Monday 31 March 2008
The club is seeking an extended trial of 24/7 trading on weekends. The Development Application has been refused by Council, and the matter is now being heard in the Land & Environment Court.
The matter is part heard before Senior Commissioner Dr Roseth, having been adjourned on 17 December 2007. It was to proceed on 3 and 4 March, however the Senior Commissioner was ill and unavailable. The hearing dates were then recast as 3 and 4 April 2008.
The Court has since advised that the Senior Commissioner continues to be unavailable. The matter has now been allocated to Commissioner Murrell, who determined the development application in the first instance, allowing for a one year trial period. The dates of 3 and 4 April 2008 have been retained, and 7 April 2008 has been reserved.
It's now necessary for all those that gave evidence before Senior Commissioner Roseth to give their evidence to Commissioner Murrell. The Commissioner will hear evidence from residents on the second day of the hearing - 4 April. It hasn't been decided yet whether residents will be heard on site or in Court.
Maddocks Lawyers (acting for the City of Sydney) is holding a conference for residents to discuss the matter and prepare for the hearing. It's being held at their offices at 5.30 pm on Monday 31 March. You can RSVP for this meeting by Thursday 27 March.
Click here for more information and other things you can do to help
Newcastle residents welcome Liquor Board decision
This isn't local - but it's extremely relevant.
An unprecedented decision by the Liquor Administration Board on 14th March has imposed reduced trading hours and restrictions on high alcohol content drinks on 14 city hotels. The decision has profound implications not only for Newcastle, but for many similar communities throughout Australia confronted with the impact of youth binge drinking and the associated intolerable disruption to peaceful communities.
An appeal has been lodged, and the hearing will not take place until June or July. However, on 21st March a full bench of the NSW Licensing Court rejected the hotels' application for a stay order - so the restrictions are in force until the appeal is heard.
The decision has been described as a key turning point in the community's battle against the epidemic of binge drinking in its city. Over a period of 8 months the Board was presented with overwhelming evidence of the nature and impact of sustained high levels of intoxication and failure of industry self-regulation in the city.
Update: Land & Environment Court hearing for the Burdekin Hotel
In December 2006 the Burdekin Hotel lodged a development application, which if it had been approved would allow it to operate as Place of Public Entertainment (PoPE), on all 5 of its floors, from 8am Friday continuously until 12 midnight Sunday. The application was refused by the City of Sydney in November 2007.
The hotel lodged an appeal against that decision with the Land & Environment Court. The case was heard on the 18th and 20th March before Commissioner Murrell. The Commissioner has asked for further information to be provided by 27th March. A decision is expected in the week commencing 31st March.
Land & Environment Court hearing for The UN/DCM nightclub
Next hearing dates: 3rd & 4th April 2008 at 9.30 am. The court is at 225 Macquarie Street.
The club is seeking an extended trial of 24/7 trading on weekends. The Development Application has been refused by Council, and the matter is now being heard in the Land & Environment Court.
The hearing commenced on 17 December 2007 before Senior Commissioner Roseth. The court conducted an on-site session and heard evidence from residents and an acoustic expert. Over 20 residents gathered outside the club that morning to show their support. The matter resumed in court for the remainder of the day. The proceedings continue.
The case had been due to resume in court on the 3rd and 4th of March 2008. However it's been delayed since the commissioner is ill and unavailable until April.
So.. you can still help between now and the next hearing date...
Click here for more information and other things you can do to help
Update: Development Application D/2008/57 - The Gaff
The Gaff nightclub and bar at Oxford Square was seeking to expand its ground floor and increase capacity by 60%.
The DA was refused under delegation of Council on 5th March 2008.
Click here to find out more information about the application and why it's been refused