Update/News: New bars attempt to expand Oxford Street's late night zone
Concerns are being raised about attempts by a number of new bars recently approved for the stretch of Oxford Street between Flinders and South Dowling Streets to extend their trading hours beyond those permitted under the City of Sydney's Late Night Trading Development Control Plan (DCP). Under the DCP, lower Oxford Street up to Taylor Square is classified as a 'Late Night Management Area' which permits up to 24 hour trading for well managed businesses. Oxford Street beyond Taylor Square is classified as a 'Local Centre Area' with trading permitted up to a maximum of 12 midnight.
Development Applications submitted for new bars at 209, 239 and 215 Oxford Street all included requests for trading hours beyond those permitted in a Local Centre Area. The Council in all 3 cases applied the DCP consistently and granted maximum trading to 12 midnight. However, one of the developments in particular, at 215 Oxford Street, is not giving up and has submitted a new application requesting 2am trading and a significant increase in patron numbers.
The applicant, known as 'Hunky Dory Social Club', initially proposed operating a small bar with a maximum of 120 patrons over the top 2 levels of the building. Since being approved by Council, the applicant has come back with a new application more than doubling the original patron numbers. They also now intend to use all levels of the building including the installation of a bar and restaurant on the ground floor and multiple bars over the top 2 levels. Trading until 2am is being pushed for strongly by the venue, despite the provisions of the DCP and previous refusal.
The Applicant states that these trading hours should be granted based on the fact that there a small number of other businesses in the surrounding area trading with extended hours. However the majority of these businesses were approved before the DCP came into effect in 2007.
There are worries that any approval of extended hours on this part of Oxford Street will lead to an unwanted extension of the already problematic Late Night Management Area and thereby further increase the many negative impacts currently being experienced. The DCP states that Local Centre Areas are not intended to be "spill" zones or to expand Late Night Management Areas.
Further Information
- Go here for all the information and documentation regarding this application on Council's website
- You can make a submission in regards to this application by emailing the Council Planner assessing the proposal, Peggy Wong, before 4th August 2010