The owners of a site in the Byron Arts & Industry Estate that is slated to include a new food and beverage venue have denied suggestions that the establishment is set to become a late-night amplified music venue.
The Echo reported last week that the owners of 18 Banksia Drive had submitted an application to Byron Council, which would see their plans for a boutique cafe on the site changed to become a late-night venue for up to 120 patrons.
The application is currently on public exhibition via Byron Shire Council.
Public subs extended
Following a request from residents, Byron Council extended the proposed public exhibition period of the modification application until January 23.
Under the application, a modification of the existing development consent for the site, the applicant is seeking to extend the hours of operation to 7am until midnight, seven days a week.
The venue would have amplified music and a DJ booth, and include an outdoor seated area.
The Echo described the proposed business as a ‘late-night music venue’.
But Alex Douglas from Norfolk Byron Bay, which owns and manages 18 Banksia Drive, along with a small group of other investors, said this was not the case.
Mr Douglas said the application was simply intended to allow a future tenant to run a high-vibe food and beverage venue, similar to local establishments like Bang Bang and Trouble San, which also had amplified music, curated by a DJ.
This meant that patrons could enjoy listening to high quality electronic music from a local electronic artist, while eating and drinking.
‘Norfolk’s vision for the food and beverage tenancy at 18 Banksia Drive is a venue that celebrates artisanal food and drinks manufactured on-site, served to seated patrons with entertainment by local electronic musicians,’ Mr Douglas said.
Noise testing undertaken as part of the modification application found that the decibel levels created by amplified music at the venue would be equivalent to a restaurant or a small bar, meaning that it would not impact nearby businesses or residences.
Sunrise Beach resident, Peter Nielsen, told The Echo, ‘If this development modification is approved by Council, it will significantly alter the public amenity of the adjacent Sunrise Beach Estate. It may further act as a precedent for the opening of similar venues that appear to belittle the right of nearby residents to peace and enjoyment within their homes’.
‘In my opinion, the proposed midnight closing, amplified events, ad-hoc parking and crowd capacity of up to 120 are conducive to over-step and lack of effective policing.’
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